Opinion ID: 203982
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Niemi argues that the evidence did not show that there was a single, overarching conspiracy as alleged in the indictment, but rather a series of individual conspiracies. Whether evidence shows one or many conspiracies is a question of fact for the jury and is reviewed only for sufficiency of the evidence. United States v. David, 940 F.2d 722, 732 (1st Cir.1991). Under this standard of review, we examine the evidencedirect and circumstantialas well as all plausible inferences drawn therefrom, in the light most favorable to the verdict, and determine whether a rational fact finder could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the charged crime. United States v. Wyatt, 561 F.3d 49, 54 (1st Cir.2009). In evaluating whether a single conspiracy existed, rather than several, courts consider the totality of the circumstances, paying particular heed to factors such as the existence of a common goal, evidence of interdependence among the participants, and the degree to which their roles overlap. United States v. Fenton, 367 F.3d 14, 19 (1st Cir.2004). These characteristics can exist in a hub-and-spoke conspiracy to sell drugs, in which one core figure supplies drugs to multiple participants. See Portela, 167 F.3d at 695-96. The intent to sell drugs may be the common goal, and the presence of the hub figure may be sufficient to establish overlap among many members. Id. Interdependence may be shown where one participant knows that his own success depends on the continued existence and health of the drug distribution organization as a whole. Id. at 697. A group may engage in a single conspiracy even if they are somewhat loosely related: the proof need not show that each conspirator knew of all the others, nor that the group remained intact throughout the duration of the enterprise. Fenton, 367 F.3d at 19. In this case, there was ample evidence to support the jury's conclusion that Niemi took part in a single conspiracy with Mercier at the center. Several co-conspirators testified that they purchased drugs from Mercier from his garage, and that they knew Niemi as another of Mercier's customers. Niemi used the same code words for drugs as other members of the conspiracy, and there was evidence that he coordinated with Mercier on at least one occasion to provide cash and help arrange for a supply of drugs. In short, the evidence showed a classic hub-and-spoke conspiracy with Mercier at the center and Niemi as an important spoke. The jury could have reasonably concluded that Niemi knew of the existence and scope of Mercier's operations, and knew that his own ability to obtain and sell drugs depended on the success of the conspiracy as a whole. The evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict, and we therefore reject Niemi's challenge.