Opinion ID: 203803
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: All defendants challenge the sufficiency of the evidence. Where, as here, the defendant has preserved his sufficiency challenge by moving for a post-verdict judgment of acquittal, our review is de novo. United States v. Carrasco, 540 F.3d 43, 49-50 (1st Cir.2008). We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all reasonable inferences consistent with the jury's verdict. Id. at 50. If a reasonable jury could have found that the government had proven each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, we will affirm the conviction. Id. We do not atomize our analysis. [W]e `consider the evidence in its totality, not in isolation, and the government need not negate every theory of innocence.' United States v. Lee, 549 F.3d 84, 92 (2d Cir.2008) (quoting United States v. Autuori, 212 F.3d 105, 114 (2d Cir.2000)); see also United States v. Roberson, 459 F.3d 39, 47 (1st Cir.2006). Defendants argue that they are entitled to a judgment of acquittal because three of their co-defendants were acquitted, even though, they assert, the evidence presented by the government and the defendants was exactly the same as to all of the seven defendants. This argument misses the point. The pertinent question is whether a reasonable jury could have found these defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt based upon the evidence presented. What the jury ultimately decided as to their similarly situated co-defendants is not relevant. Cf. United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 67, 105 S.Ct. 471, 83 L.Ed.2d 461 (1984) (recognizing that review of a sufficiency challenge should be independent of the jury's determination that evidence on another count was insufficient). Even if we were to view this as an inconsistency in the jury's verdict, which we do not, that is not a basis for overturning a conviction that is sufficiently supported by the evidence. See United States v. DeCologero, 530 F.3d 36, 69 (1st Cir.2008). Here, the evidence offered was more than sufficient to support each of the defendants' convictions. To prove guilt on the aiding and abetting drug possession charge, the government needed to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants participated in the drug venture and sought by their actions to make it succeed. Rodríguez-Durán, 507 F.3d at 758-59. Specifically, a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 70503(a)(1) requires proof that (1) the defendants' vessel was subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, (2) the material found onboard the boat was a controlled substance, and (3) the defendants knowingly or intentionally possessed the drugs with the intent to distribute them. Rodríguez-Durán, 507 F.3d at 759. Defendants focus on the third prong, arguing that the government proved only their mere proximity to the drugs, which was insufficient to support their convictions. Of course, a defendant's mere presence at the scene of the crime alone is generally insufficient proof of his participation in the crime. United States v. Guerrero, 114 F.3d 332, 342 (1st Cir. 1997). But this is not a mere presence case; the evidence strongly indicates that the convicted defendants knew about the drugs onboard the Osiris II. The evidence against Estupinan-Estupinan, the boat's captain, is particularly strong. [J]uries may reason that a captain normally knows what his ship contains. Carrasco, 540 F.3d at 50 (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Steuben, 850 F.2d 859, 865 (1st Cir.1988)). Here, the evidence presented supports this common sense conclusion. For example, the Coast Guard found a sketch of the Osiris II in the captain's quarters with a mark indicating where the drugs were hidden. And Estupinan-Estupinan initially refused help from the Coast Guard, even though his boat's engine had failed in the open water. A jury could reasonably infer that his reluctance was motivated by a desire to keep the Coast Guard from discovering the drugs onboard his boat. Moreover, Estupinan-Estupinan did not run his boat in a manner consistent with a commercial shipping operation. The boat's legitimate cargo was carelessly stowed in the hold, potentially compromising both the stability of the boat and the integrity of the cargo. [2] Based upon the evidence presented, a reasonable jury could easily have found that Estupinan-Estupinan knew there were drugs on his boat. The government also presented sufficient evidence to sustain the convictions against crew members Brito-Fernández and Casiano-Jiménez. Supporting factors may include the length of the voyage, the size and condition of the vessel, the quantity of [drugs aboard], and the absence of a legitimate purpose for the voyage. Carrasco, 540 F.3d at 50 (alteration in original) (quoting Guerrero, 114 F.3d at 342). Here, the Osiris II was on a voyage between Colombia, a primary source of drugs, and the Dominican Republic. A large quantity of drugs was seized from a hidden compartment accessible through the crew's berthing area. The quantity of drugs seized itself suggests strongly that each of the crew members knew about the boat's drug smuggling purpose because drug traffickers would not entrust a multi-million-dollar shipment to anyone in whom they did not have confidence. Rodríguez-Durán, 507 F.3d at 760; see also Guerrero, 114 F.3d at 344 ([U]nwitting bystanders would not have been hired to participate in the [boat's] obvious illegal transport of millions of dollars' worth of contraband); United States v. Piedrahita-Santiago, 931 F.2d 127, 131 (1st Cir.1991); United States v. Cuevas-Esquivel, 905 F.2d 510, 515 (1st Cir.1990) (It is entirely reasonable for the jury to conclude the conspirators, engaged in conduct which by its nature is kept secret from outsiders, would not allow the presence of innocent bystanders.). And the practical difficulties involved with concealing such a quantity of drugs makes it unlikely that the crew members were unaware of the drugs onboard the boat. See Carrasco, 540 F.3d at 51. Beyond that, the screws on the hatch leading to that compartment were not tarnished, indicating that the space had been sealed shut recently. This evidence is probative of the crew members' knowledge of the drugs because the more recently that the drugs were placed onboard the boat, the more likely it is that the crew members either witnessed the loading or participated in it. Finally, a reasonable jury could have concluded that the crew members knew the purported legitimate purpose of the voyage was a ruse, given the self-evident low value of the cargo and the unprofessional manner in which it was transported. Indeed, as even the defendants' only witness acknowledged, the toilet paper was stored in a manner that could have destroyed its value, making it obvious that the boat's primary purpose was something other than delivering toilet paper. The evidence in total was sufficient for a jury to conclude the crew members knew of the Osiris II's drug smuggling purpose. The evidence demonstrating the other crew members' guilt applies with equal force to Angulo-Hernández, the boat's engineer. But one additional fact makes the government's case against Angulo-Hernández even stronger. Angulo-Hernández had been on a previous crew list for the Osiris II, making it even more unlikely that he was unaware of the boat's secret compartment and its contents. His sufficiency claim also fails. Likewise, because the jury could have found that each defendant had knowledge of the drugs onboard the Osiris II, it could have inferred that they had agreed to transport the drugs for the purpose of distributing them at their destination, which is the essence of the conspiracy charge. See Carrasco, 540 F.3d at 51.