Opinion ID: 415488
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Claims of Carson.

Text: 44 In addition to challenging the sufficiency of the evidence supporting her conviction on the conspiracy count, Carson argues that there is insufficient evidence to sustain her conviction on a substantive charge. She also claims error in the trial court's charge respecting the effect that a finding of guilt on a substantive count should have on the jury's consideration of the conspiracy count. Finding no merit in these claims, we affirm Carson's convictions. 45
46 Carson contends that there is insufficient evidence to support her conviction on Count 15, which charged her with possession with intent to distribute, and with distribution of, heroin in a July 25, 1981 sale to Agents Baker, Johnson and Williams. The question for us is whether there was evidence from which the jury could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Carson knowingly participated in the sale. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient and affirm her conviction on Count 15. 47 On July 21, Wilkins had agreed to act as an intermediary in a heroin sale between the agents and Fred Galloway. There was no mention of Carson, but four days later, on July 25, when Wilkins arrived at the Flash Inn to meet the agents as planned, he was accompanied by Carson, whom he introduced as his partner. Acknowledging the relationship, Carson confirmed the details of the partnership with Wilkins and discussed the heroin business. The partners--Carson and Wilkins--then drove with Agent Williams to the Close Encounters Discotheque. En route, Carson engaged in a narcotics-related conversation from which there can be no doubt that she was fully aware that the agents' purpose in going to the discotheque was to buy heroin from Galloway and Wilkins. When they arrived at the discotheque, arrangements were made for Gayburnetta Galloway to go some place, pick up the heroin and return with it. During Gayburnetta's absence, a fight broke out among patrons. Fearful that the police would arrive, Carson remarked to Agent Johnson that Galloway, whom she had greeted earlier, was stupid for allowing a fight to go on when he was taking care of business. 48 Fully aware that delivery of the heroin was imminent and that the police were likely to arrive on the scene momentarily to deal with the fight, Carson went outside with the agents and was later joined by Wilkins. When Gayburnetta arrived, Wilkins said, the dope's here. Let's go inside, and the group, including Carson, reentered the discotheque. Gayburnetta brought the heroin to an office in the discotheque. After conversing with Galloway and receiving $42,000 cash from the agents, Wilkins retrieved a paper bag from the office and handed it to Agent Baker. 49 Agent Baker gave the bag to Agent Johnson, who left to perform a field test on its contents. The test indicated heroin, and Johnson returned to the discotheque. Having earlier assured the agents that she could supply heroin if they wanted it, Carson gave Agent Johnson her telephone number upon his request. She then warned Agent Johnson that police were in the discotheque, and the agents left. 50 The jury could reasonably conclude from this evidence that Carson knowingly participated in the July 25 heroin transaction and assisted in its successful completion. In particular, her fear of police intervention, her warnings to Agent Johnson, and her participation in the outside watch for Gayburnetta, permit the inference that Carson acted as a lookout. As Wilkins' partner, she had a clear interest in the success of the transaction. The jury was warranted in finding that her appearance with Wilkins at the Flash Inn on the morning of July 25 was not as an innocent companion but as a sophisticated partner in the planned sale. Cf. United States v. Calabro, supra, 449 F.2d at 890. Her presence enabled her to observe and size up the customers and assure them that they were dealing with an established and reliable source of supply with a view to promoting and successfully completing the pending, as well as future, heroin deals. 21 This conclusion is supported by Carson's later refusal to deal with the agents because they asked too many questions on the night of the sale. This evidence, considered in light of the circumstances, permitted the jury to conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Carson knowingly assisted in the sale, participated in it as something she wished to bring about, had a stake in its success, and sought by her actions to make it succeed. It was therefore reasonable for the jury to conclude that she was an aider and abettor in the sale. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2; United States v. Barton, 647 F.2d 224, 239 n. 12 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 857, 102 S.Ct. 307, 70 L.Ed.2d 152 (1981); United States v. Clemente, 640 F.2d 1069, 1078-79 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 820, 102 S.Ct. 102, 70 L.Ed.2d 91 (1981); United States v. Bommarito, 524 F.2d 140, 145 (2d Cir.1975); United States v. Pui KanLam, 483 F.2d 1202, 1207-08 (2d Cir.1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 984, 94 S.Ct. 1578, 39 L.Ed.2d 881 (1974). 51
52 During its deliberations, the jury sent a note to the court, stating: The jury requests to know whether a decision of guilt on a substantive count automatically denotes guilt on the count of conspiracy. Answering the note, Judge Brieant instructed: The answer to your question, in two words, is 'absolutely not.'  Carson argues that [a]lthough the trial judge charged the jury that conviction on Count I should not be 'automatic' if they found Carson had committed the acts charged against her in Count XV, as a practical matter, the jury's verdict finding Carson guilty on Count XV virtually automatically had to result in a guilty verdict as to Count I as well. (Br. at 23.) This argument is frivolous. 53 Although Judge Brieant did charge that a finding of guilt on a substantive charge could be considered by the jury in evaluating the conspiracy count, he repeatedly stressed that the elements of the crime were different, that each count had to be considered separately, and that each element of the crime had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before a verdict of guilt could be rendered on any count. Moreover, the court instructed the jury to decide each count of the indictment separately as to each defendant who was named in the count. 54 In view of the foregoing, Carson's conviction on the conspiracy count is also affirmed. 55