Opinion ID: 482573
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hanlon's appeal

Text: 27 We now turn to the hearsay arguments in Hanlon's appeal. At the conclusion of the pretrial hearing the court found that there was substantial independent evidence that a conspiracy existed and that its members included Hanlon, David Bradshaw, and J.D. Sock Bradshaw. The court allowed several Government witnesses to relate out-of-court statements made by David and J.D. Bradshaw. Hanlon argues that these out-of-court statements should have been excluded because the Government's evidence showed the existence of a series of unrelated drug transactions rather than a single conspiracy and that there was insufficient nonhearsay evidence of her participation in that conspiracy.
Existence of a single conspiracy 28 First, Hanlon argues that each trip to Florida constituted a distinct conspiracy, and that some of the out-of-court statements related to trips in which she was not involved. However, the existence of a number of separate transactions does not require the finding of separate conspiracies. United States v. Behrens, 689 F.2d 154, 160 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1088, 103 S.Ct. 573, 74 L.Ed.2d 934 (1982); United States v. Parnell, 581 F.2d 1374, 1382 (10th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1076, 99 S.Ct. 852, 59 L.Ed.2d 44 (1979). We must determine whether the district court could reasonably have found that the various trips to Florida constituted essential and integrative steps toward the realization of a common, illicit goal. United States v. Dickey, 736 F.2d 571, 582 (10th Cir.1984) (quoting United States v. Brewer, 630 F.2d 795, 799 (10th Cir.1980)), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1188, 105 S.Ct. 957, 83 L.Ed.2d 964 (1985). Here the court found that there was a single conspiracy to acquire cocaine from Miami for redistribution in the Northern District of Oklahoma, and that finding is fairly supported by the record. See United States v. Pilling, 721 F.2d 286, 292-93 (10th Cir.1983). 29 We hold that the court's finding of a single conspiracy was not in error.
Connection of Hanlon to the conspiracy 30 Hanlon also argues that there was no independent evidence to connect her to the conspiracy and that the finding to the contrary was based on her mere association with Bradshaw. 10 We disagree, finding abundant nonhearsay proof, at both the pretrial hearing and at trial, showing Hanlon's active participation in Bradshaw's ongoing cocaine scheme. First, several members of the conspiracy testified that Hanlon had performed numerous tasks for Bradshaw's cocaine business. Several coconspirators testified that Hanlon had paid Gomez for cocaine previously purchased by Bradshaw, delivered cocaine to Tucker, received payment from him, and helped Bradshaw collect on Greg Clark's cocaine debt. 31 Second, there was abundant evidence that Hanlon played an active role during various cocaine transactions conducted at hotels in Tulsa and Miami. For example, Hanlon often registered at the hotels for Bradshaw and herself, using an alias and listing fictitious addresses and vehicles. See United States v. Silverman, 771 F.2d 1193, 1200 (9th Cir.1985) ([g]iving a false identity is admissible as evidence of consciousness of guilt). Typically Bradshaw's cocaine customers would call the hotel to arrange a purchase and Hanlon would answer the telephone and door when the transaction actually took place. In addition, Hanlon rented a locker in Tulsa in which she and Bradshaw stored the cocaine. 32 Finally, on October 7, 1982, Hanlon accompanied Bradshaw in a stolen vehicle containing $4750 and 239 grams of cocaine in the trunk. Hanlon was carrying $7500 in her purse. Shortly after the car was stopped Hanlon offered to help the Tulsa police make another arrest involving fifty pounds of cocaine which was then located in Florida. 11 33 We conclude that there was sufficient independent evidence to support the finding regarding Hanlon's participation in the conspiracy. 12