Opinion ID: 667990
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 3 We will uphold Plazas' conviction against a challenge for insufficiency of the evidence, if, upon viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we determine that a reasonable jury could have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of each essential element of the offense charged. United States v. Smith, 962 F.2d 923, 928 (9th Cir.1992); United States v. Castillo, 866 F.2d 1071, 1086 (9th Cir.1988). Plazas challenges the sufficiency of the evidence as to only one element of one of the offenses with which he was charged. He argues that the evidence does not support the conclusion that he possessed the cocaine that was delivered to Calderon. 4 To sustain a conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, the government was required to prove that Plazas possessed, or had dominion and control over, the cocaine. Id.; United States v. Batimana, 623 F.2d 1366, 1369 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1038, 101 S.Ct. 617, 66 L.Ed.2d 500 (1980); see also United States v. Barnett, 468 F.2d 1153, 1155 (9th Cir.1972) (a finding of [constructive] possession turns upon whether [o]ne [has] a working relationship or a sufficient association with those having physical custody of the drugs so as to enable him to assure their production, without difficulty, to a customer) (internal quotations and citation omitted). It did. 5 Calderon testified that he and Plazas had several conversations and meetings in which they arranged a drug deal. Plazas set the price and the manner in which the deal would be executed. He told Calderon that he would take the latter's car and that it would be returned to him the following morning loaded with cocaine. The following morning, Plazas took Calderon to the car, which was loaded with cocaine, pointed it out to him, said that someone was watching to see that the deal went as planned, and added that if Calderon could get back quickly they could do another deal right away. That was enough.