Opinion ID: 440538
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Conspiracy to Import and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute

Text: 142 Hobson and Waldrop insist that the record is devoid of evidence that they entered into a conspiratorial agreement with the other co-defendants; at best, they contend, the evidence indicates that they were merely buyers from and not members of the conspiracy. 143 In order for a defendant to be found guilty of conspiracy, the government must demonstrate that a conspiracy existed, that the defendant had knowledge of it, and that he or she voluntarily became a part of it. United States v. Badolato, 701 F.2d 915, 920 (11th Cir.1983); United States v. Lippner, 676 F.2d 456, 466 (11th Cir.1982). The existence of a conspiracy may be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence such as inferences from the conduct of the defendant or circumstances indicating a scheme or plan. The knowledge requirement refers simply to knowledge of the essential objective of the conspiracy; a defendant may be found guilty notwithstanding that he did not have knowledge of all the details of the conspiracy or played only a minor role in the total operation. Badolato, 701 F.2d at 918-20; United States v. Corbin, 734 F.2d 643 (11th Cir.1984). 144 It is settled that the existence of a simple buyer-seller relationship alone does not furnish the requisite evidence of a conspiratorial agreement. United States v. Braico, 422 F.2d 543 (7th Cir.1970); United States v. Watson, 594 F.2d 1330, 1337 (10th Cir.1979); United States v. Torres, 503 F.2d 1120, 1123 (2d Cir.1974). It is equally well settled, however, that where a buyer knowingly assumes a role instrumental to the success of the conspiracy, the jury may properly infer that he is a member in it. United States v. Apollo, 476 F.2d 156, 162 (5th Cir.1973) (finding it unnecessary to define precisely how limited purchases, in number or size, may be in such 'mere purchases' cases and still permit the intent to participate in an unlawful conspiracy to be inferred, because in the present case, there was direct proof of a continuing relationship between Apollo and Cocroft, a known conspirator, which resulted on at least two occasions in the witting transfer of company marijuana to Apollo); United States v. Hess, 691 F.2d 984, 988 (11th Cir.1982) (while a fence does not automatically become a conspirator by purchasing stolen property, fences are necessary to the success of a hijacking conspiracy, and a fence who holds himself out as a place to dispose of stolen goods is a conspirator). 145 In this case, it is clear that Hobson and Waldrop were more than mere purchasers. They were among the selling group's best buyers, they purchased from the selling group on numerous occasions, and maintained a close relationship with the selling group. The success of the selling group's endeavors depended upon the participation and cooperation of Hobson and Waldrop: Waldrop's failure to pick up the marijuana from the Tallahassee warehouse as scheduled resulted in a delay that led to seizure of the shipment, and the success of the Constellation episode depended upon Hobson's and Waldrop's willingness to purchase a majority if not all of the marijuana load. Accordingly, we find the evidence more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that Hobson and Waldrop had entered into a conspiratorial agreement with the other co-defendants. 146 Hobson and Waldrop further argue that regardless of whether their role as frequent buyers is sufficient to demonstrate their complicity in a conspiracy to possess marijuana, the evidence remained insufficient to support the inference that they had knowledge that the marijuana was imported. Accordingly, they contend that their convictions for conspiracy to import cannot stand, because they had no knowledge of an essential objective of the conspiracy. 147 In order to be guilty of conspiring to import a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 963, the defendant must have known that the substance was imported. United States v. Steward, 451 F.2d 1203 (2d Cir.1971); Mason v. United States, 383 F.2d 107 (10th Cir.1967). A defendant will not be held to have knowledge of an illegal importation solely on the basis of evidence that one or more of his alleged co-conspirators had such knowledge; nevertheless, direct or circumstantial evidence may justify an inference of knowledge. Mason v. United States, 383 F.2d 107 (10th Cir.1967). 148 Here, there is no question that marijuana was imported from Colombia, South America into the United States by means of boat and airplane. There is likewise no question that Hobson and Waldrop's co-defendants were aware that the marijuana was imported. In light of the massive quantity of marijuana involved, the frequency with which Waldrop and Hobson had occasion to deal with the other members of the enterprise, the fact that Hobson, Waldrop and Cobb were described as the principal organizers of the Constellation episode in which marijuana was to be delivered by airplane from Colombia to southern Florida, and the presence of both Hobson and Waldrop at various of the organization's stash houses on numerous occasions, the jury was warranted in finding that Hobson and Waldrop knew the marijuana was imported. United States v. Corbin, 734 F.2d 643 (11th Cir.1984); United States v. Garcia, 721 F.2d 721, 725 (11th Cir.1983).