Opinion ID: 223279
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Conspiracy Law

Text: A criminal conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to accomplish an unlawful purpose. See United States v. King, 627 F.3d 641, 651 (7th Cir.2010). The agreement is the sine qua non of a conspiracy, and this element is not supplied by mere knowledge of an illegal activity . . ., let alone by mere association with other conspirators or mere presence at the scene of the conspiratorial deeds. United States v. Zafiro, 945 F.2d 881, 888 (7th Cir.1991); see also United States v. Pérez-González, 445 F.3d 39, 49 (1st Cir.2006) (same). [I]t is therefore essential to determine what kind of agreement or understanding existed as to each defendant. United States v. Rivera-Santiago, 872 F.2d 1073, 1079 (1st Cir.1989) (quoting United States v. Glenn, 828 F.2d 855, 857 (1st Cir.1987)) (internal quotation mark omitted). The agreement need not, however, be express, [and] may consist of no more than a tacit understanding. United States v. Morillo, 158 F.3d 18, 23 (1st Cir.1998) (quoting United States v. Echeverri, 982 F.2d 675, 679 (1st Cir.1993)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Thus, in order to sustain a conviction for conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the evidence must show that (1) a conspiracy existed, (2) the defendant had knowledge of the conspiracy, and (3) the defendant knowingly and voluntarily participated in the conspiracy. United States v. Portalla, 496 F.3d 23, 26 (1st Cir.2007); Morillo, 158 F.3d at 23 (quoting United States v. Gómez-Pabón, 911 F.2d 847, 852 (1st Cir.1990)). Under the third element, the evidence must establish that the defendant both intended to join the conspiracy and intended to effectuate the objects of the conspiracy. Portalla, 496 F.3d at 26.