Opinion ID: 198984
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Evidence Seized at the Time of Merced-Morales' Arrest

Text: 91 Merced-Morales argues that the evidence seized at the time of his arrest should have been suppressed because: (1) the drug conspiracy ended in 1995 when certain members of the Santiago-Lugo organization were arrested, and therefore the evidence was inadmissable pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 404(b); and (2) the risk of undue prejudice outweighed the probative value of the evidence pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 403. We review for abuse of discretion. See Houlihan, 92 F.3d at 1297; Rivera-Gomez, 67 F.3d at 997. Finding no error, we affirm the ruling of the district court. 92 There is no evidence in the record that the drug conspiracy involved in this case ended prior to the arrest of Merced-Morales. The law on this question is settled: Where a conspiracy contemplates a continuity of purpose and a continued performance of acts, it is presumed to exist until there has been an affirmative showing that it has terminated. E.g., United States v. Elwell, 984 F.2d 1289, 1293 (1st Cir. 1993). Contrary to appellant's assertion, the arrest of some co-conspirators does not automatically terminate a conspiracy. See, e.g., United States v.Mealy, 851 F.2d 890, 901 (7th Cir. 1988) (A co-conspirator's arrest does not automatically terminate a conspiracy; the remaining conspirators may continue to carry out the goals of the conspiracy notwithstanding the arrest of one of their partners.); United States v. Thompson, 533 F.2d 1006, 1010 (6th Cir. 1976) (same). 93 In addition, there is no evidence in the record that Merced-Morales withdrew from the conspiracy prior to his arrest. To withdraw, a conspirator must take some affirmative action 'either to defeat or disavow the purposes of the conspiracy.' United States v. Munoz, 36 F.3d 1229, 1234 (1st Cir. 1994) (quotingUnited States v. Juodakis, 834 F.2d 1099, 1102 (1st Cir. 1987)). Since the record does not indicate that Merced-Morales withdrew from the drug conspiracy, and since the drug paraphernalia and firearms list were consistent with his involvement in the conspiracy, the trial court did not err by admitting these items into evidence. 94