Opinion ID: 783096
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficient Evidence of Conspiracy

Text: 12 We also review the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conspiracy conviction de novo. Cruz, 285 F.3d at 697. [O]nly slight evidence connecting a defendant to the conspiracy may be enough to sustain a conviction. The government need only prove that [the defendant] tacitly agreed to participate in the conspiracy and that he intended its unlawful goal. United States v. Causor-Serrato, 234 F.3d 384, 388 (8th Cir.2000) (citations omitted). Titlbach contends he was no longer a member of the conspiracy after his arrest in May 1999. 13 The jury found, by special verdict, Titlbach committed an act in furtherance of the conspiracy after June 6, 1999-the date when Titlbach's second prior felony drug conviction became final, making a life sentence mandatory for the current conviction pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. 7 Titlbach argues the jury could not have found he committed an act in furtherance of the conspiracy after June 6, 1999. We disagree. 14 Two significant events allow a jury to infer Titlbach acted in furtherance of the conspiracy after June 6, 1999. First, following Titlbach's arrest on May 19, 1999, he was housed with Robert Zoll (Zoll) in the Linn County Jail. Zoll testified he and Titlbach exchanged recipes for manufacturing methamphetamine. 15 Second, Titlbach and Shipp were arrested on May 31, 2000. At that time, officers discovered 18 lithium batteries, many coffee filters, walkie-talkies, road flares, bullets, a black powder pistol, acetone, methamphetamine, marijuana, an electronic scale, and large sums of cash in Titlbach's and Shipp's vehicles. Both Shipp and Titlbach provided false information to officers during the stops. Shipp had also registered into a hotel near her home under an alias and paid cash for the room. Before being stopped, Titlbach drove slowly and furtively past Shipp's stopped vehicle, then called Shipp's cellular telephone. After his arrest, Titlbach admitted to Investigator George Aboud (Agent Aboud) that he was still manufacturing methamphetamine. While Titlbach now argues the confession implicates him in manufacturing only, and not to the continued conspiracy, the evidence could reasonably lead the jury to infer Titlbach continued with the conspiracy after June 6, 1999.