Opinion ID: 506592
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 23 Oddo's final challenge to his sentence is that the government did not present sufficient evidence to substantiate its claim that Oddo provided the drugs that Allo gave to Montalvo for sale to the undercover agent. Judges Pratt and Mishler heard testimony for three days, with evidence presented both by the government and by the defendants. Allo's testimony was consistent with the version of the facts urged on the court by Oddo; neither Allo nor Montalvo testified that Oddo was the supplier. The undercover agent testified, though, both as to his observation of the drug transaction and, from his expert knowledge and experience, about the roles played by the respective participants. The agent's testimony established that (1) the supplier of the drugs is often present when his drugs are being sold via a third party to a new buyer, such as the agent was in this transaction; (2) the high quality of the cocaine (96% pure) indicated that the transaction was close to its prime source; and (3) Allo performed the lookout role, since he carried a gun and was close to the exchange, while Oddo was unarmed and observed the exchange from a safe distance. This latter conduct was described as typical behavior for a supplier and was inconsistent with Oddo's professed role of lookout. 24 Judges Pratt and Mishler independently reached the conclusion that the government agent's testimony was credible, and that Allo's was not. Since Oddo had argued that the transaction occurred in the manner that Allo had claimed, the court therefore rejected Oddo's version of the incident. Having reviewed the transcript of the hearing, we find that there was sufficient evidence to support the conclusion of the district court.