Opinion ID: 223279
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Variance

Text: When . . . a defendant asserts a claim of variance premised on the notion that multiple conspiracies existed and that his activities were not part of the charged conspiracy, the initial question . . . is one of evidentiary sufficiency. United States v. Pérez-Ruiz, 353 F.3d 1, 7 (1st Cir.2003); see also United States v. Niemi, 579 F.3d 123, 127 (1st Cir.2009) (Whether evidence shows one or many conspiracies is a question of fact for the jury and is reviewed only for sufficiency of the evidence.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 1912, 176 L.Ed.2d 385 (2010). In reviewing for sufficiency of the evidence, `we examine the evidencedirect and circumstantialas well as all plausible inferences drawn therefrom, in the light most favorable to the verdict, and determine whether a rational fact finder could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the charged crime.' Niemi, 579 F.3d at 127 (quoting United States v. Wyatt, 561 F.3d 49, 54 (1st Cir.2009)). In determining whether a prejudicial variance exists in the instant case, we first discuss the legal principles that govern whether criminal activity constitutes multiple conspiracies, as opposed to a single conspiracy. Next, we address whether the evidence in the case at hand supported a finding of a single overarching conspiracy, encompassing both Defendants and all the relevant nefarious conduct, to distribute both cocaine and marijuana. After concluding that the evidence did not support such a conclusion, but rather that the evidence established at least two distinct conspiracies, we analyze whether the evidence was sufficient for a jury to have found the Defendants guilty of joining either of the two conspiracies that were actually proven by the government and, if so, we then determine whether the variance (between the conspiracy charged and the conspiracy for which there was sufficient evidence that the Defendants actually joined) unfairly prejudiced the Defendants. [10]