Opinion ID: 766923
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence Underlying the Conspiracy Count

Text: 81 Sarkisian argues that the evidence was insufficient to link him to the car stealing conspiracy and underlying substantive crimes. Once the existence of a conspiracy is established, evidence of only a slight connection to the conspiracy is necessary to support a conviction of knowing participation in that conspiracy. United States v. Ramos-Rascon, 8 F.3d 704, 707 (9th Cir. 1993) (emphasis added) (quotations omitted). 82 Sarkisian does not dispute that his co-defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to steal cars and auto parts; rather he argues that the evidence was insufficient to link him to that conspiracy. In response, the government offers several pieces of evidence it argues support Sarkisian's link to the conspiracy. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we hold that the evidence linking Sarkisian to the conspiracy was sufficient. 83 First, Bedrik testified about numerous connections between Mikayelyan and Sarkisian. Bedrik recounted a meeting where Mikayelyan was dismayed with Ivanchikov, and was going to make Sarkisian his right hand man. Bedrik testified that Sarkisian translated a meeting between Semenov, Mikayelyan and Ivanchikov, in which Semenov and Mikayelyan complained about Ivanchikov overcharging customers on certain auto parts. Bedrik also testified that on occasions, Sarkisian and Mikayelyan had approached him about stealing cars that they needed. Bedrik recounted a specific instance where Sarkisian approached him about stealing a Subaru because Sarkisian needed parts from that make of car. Second, pen registers recorded several hundred phone calls between Sarkisian and Mikayelyan. 84 Finally, the evidence concerning a plum-colored Honda supports Sarkisian's connection to the conspiracy. Testimony established that on February 5, 1996, Sarkisian purchased a salvaged Honda from a dealer at an auction. Three days later, a plum-colored Honda was stolen by an unknown person from a neighborhood in Sacramento.Pen register records showed that the day after the plum-colored Honda was stolen, Ivanchikov called Sarkisian for the first time in seven months. Gabareyev testified that later, while he was at Sarkisian's house, either Sarkisian or Semenov told him that Sarkisian had VIN-switched a car and given it to his sister. That car was later tracked down and confirmed to be a plum-colored Honda that had been VIN-switched. The evidence underlying the plum-colored Honda supports the inference that: (1) Sarkisian purchased a salvaged Honda and was ready to perform a VIN-switch on another Honda; (2) members of Mikayelyan's conspiracy stole the Honda from Sacramento; and (3) Ivanchikov called Sarkisian to tell him that the car was ready; (4) Sarkisian performed a VIN switch on the car and gave it to his sister. 85 We hold that the evidence linking Sarkisian to the conspiracy was sufficient.