Opinion ID: 566092
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Sea Viking

Text: 17 The Sea Viking venture occurred from October 1987 to January 1988, prior to the end of the conspiracies charged in the indictment. A government witness testified that he was hired by appellant Sanchez to bring marijuana into the United States on board the Sea Viking. The witness testified that Sanchez gave him the route to follow (passing by Misteriosa Bank), radio frequencies, and a communications code. This load was intercepted by the Coast Guard at the end of January 1988, and 15,500 pounds of marijuana were seized. The court admitted the Sea Viking evidence as part of the conspiracies charged in the indictment, on the basis that none of the co-defendants had affirmatively withdrawn from those conspiracies. 18 Appellants argue that this evidence was improperly admitted under Rule 404(b) because it is only relevant to show appellant Sanchez' supposed propensity to commit the type of crimes with which he is charged, contrary to United States v. Goodwin, 492 F.2d 1141, 1153 (5th Cir.1974), and its progeny. However, given that this incident took place within the time frame of the conspiracies charged in the indictment, and that the modus operandi of this venture was substantially similar to that of the ventures charged in the indictment, this evidence was clearly relevant to show motive, intent, knowledge, and common scheme or plan. 19 Appellants also argue that because only Sanchez among the defendant's was implicated in the Sea Viking venture, it was a wholly separate incident and not admissible as part of the conspiracies charged in the indictment. 16 Whether the evidence shows one conspiracy or multiple conspiracies is primarily a jury question. See, e.g., United States v. Stitzer, 785 F.2d 1506, 1518 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 823, 107 S.Ct. 93, 93 L.Ed.2d 44 (1986). There is no requirement that every member of the conspiracy participate in every transaction to find a single conspiracy, nor must the evidence show that each conspirator knew the others or the details of each venture making up the conspiracy. Id. A single conspiracy may be found where there is a key man who directs the illegal activities, while various combinations of other people exert individual efforts towards the common goal. Id. 20 In this case, the evidence relating to the Sea Viking was properly admitted by the district court as an uncharged substantive offense which was proof of the continuing criminal enterprise as well as proof of the underlying conspiracies. See United States v. Alvarez-Moreno, 874 F.2d 1402, 1408 (11th Cir.1989), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 1484, 108 L.Ed.2d 620 (1990). We believe the jury reasonably could find that Sanchez and Gonzalez were key men, and that Rodriguez, Morales, Santos, and Garcia were participants in the overall scheme to varying degrees. There is sufficient evidence that each defendant had a general knowledge of the overall goal of the conspiracies, i.e., the importation and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute it. The Sea Viking venture was within the time frame of the conspiracies charged in the indictment, and no evidence was presented that any of the appellants withdrew from the conspiracies. We therefore find no abuse of discretion by the district court in admitting this evidence as part of the conspiracies charged in the indictment. 17 3. Financial Applications of Sanchez and his Wife 21 Appellant Sanchez also challenges two exhibits introduced by the government that show Sanchez and his wife had made false statements regarding the sources of their increased wealth. This evidence included loan applications filed by both, a health insurance form filed by Sanchez' wife stating that she worked for a company, and that company's wage reports showing that she did not work for that company during that time. This evidence was introduced for the purpose of proving an increase in wealth during the course of the enterprise, and that Sanchez attempted to conceal the true source of the increased wealth. Sanchez concedes that the government is entitled to introduce evidence of an increase in wealth, but argues that this evidence is only relevant to show bad character contrary to Rule 404(b). 18 We disagree. 22 The possession of large amounts of unexplained cash in connection with evidence of narcotics trafficking on a large scale has long been admissible to show the doing of the act connected with those proceeds. United States v. $364,960.00 in U.S. Currency, 661 F.2d 319, 324 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981). The government was entitled to show that Sanchez had experienced a sudden acquisition of large sums of money from unexplained sources in order to prove that he had received substantial income and resources from the continuing criminal enterprise with which he was charged. United States v. Lattimore, 902 F.2d 902, 903 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 272, 112 L.Ed.2d 228 (1990); United States v. Chagra, 669 F.2d 241, 256 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 846, 103 S.Ct. 102, 74 L.Ed.2d 92 (1982). Although the sudden acquisition of money by a defendant charged with a crime involving pecuniary gain is admissible without tracing the source, Lattimore, 902 F.2d at 903, the probative value of such pecuniary gain increases if the prosecution is able affirmatively to eliminate a defendant's claim of a legitimate source. Here, evidence of appellant's apparent attempt to conceal the true source of his sudden wealth by falsely listing a source that appeared to be legitimate is relevant to negate any legitimate source for these funds, and is not unfairly prejudicial. We find no abuse of discretion in admitting this evidence.