Opinion ID: 3035899
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cartwright made his first

Text: appearance in the breezeway at the same time that Jackson was observed carrying the shopping bag containing the cocaine; (2) Cartwright walked side-by-side 10 with Jackson through the breezeway and the two were observed talking to each other; (3) Cartwright possessed a semi- automatic firearm, a cellular phone, $180 in cash, and a Motorola Timeport two-way text messaging device; and (4) Cartwright did not possess any keys to a vehicle of his own. Id. We determined that, “in the absence of any evidence indicating a substance of the conversation with Jackson, any evidence of a prior relationship with Jackson, or any other direct evidence indicating Cartwright’s knowledge, the jury could only speculate as to Cartwright’s knowledge.” Id. at 289. Thus, we concluded that this speculation was insufficient to infer a conclusion that Cartwright had knowledge of the transaction. Id. Unlike Cartwright, Soto had intimate knowledge of the “straw purchase.” Furthermore, the evidence in this case indicated that Soto and Brown had a prior relationship. Soto knew that the firearms were not for Brown, yet he allowed her to fill out the purchase paperwork. Furthermore, he was present in the gun store at the time she purchased these firearms. Soto was clearly part of the criminal enterprise. He was paid for his services to act as protection for Brown in the purchase of the firearms. Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we find that this evidence was legally sufficient to support the conviction because there existed a logical and convincing conclusion between the facts established and the 11 conclusion inferred that Soto aided and abetted Brown in violating § 924(a)(1)(A).