Opinion ID: 44915
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Convictions for aiding and abetting

Text: Jones first argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that she aided and abetted Williams in possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. Jones 2 In calculating the applicable advisory Guidelines range, the PSI grouped together Jones’s convictions for aiding and abetting possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (“Count Two”) and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (“Count Five”). The PSI stated that these counts were grouped together pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(c), “because Count Five embodies conduct that is treated as a specific offense characteristic in, or other adjustment to, the guideline applicable to Count Two.” 6 claims that there was no evidence that she shared Williams’s intent to distribute the cocaine or that she helped distribute it.3 “[T]o sustain the convictions for aiding and abetting, the prosecution must show that the defendant associated himself with a criminal venture, participated in it as something he wished to bring about and sought by his actions to make it succeed.” United States v. Bain, 736 F.2d 1480, 1487 (11th Cir. 1984) (quotation marks and citations omitted). Further, “in a prosecution for aiding and abetting possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, there must be evidence connecting the defendant with both aspects of the crime, possession and intent to distribute.” United States v. Longoria, 569 F.2d 422, 425 (5th Cir. 1978).4 Jones concedes that the government established the first element, possession. Moreover, as to the “intent to distribute” element, we conclude that a reasonable jury could have determined that Jones wished and acted to help Williams distribute the drugs. Jones allowed Williams to live with her and provided him with a safe place to store his drugs and conduct his drug-related activities. Jones rented the house solely in her name, allowed Williams to move in, permitted Williams to 3 We review the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, drawing all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of the government and the jury’s verdict. See United States v. Garcia, 405 F.3d 1260, 1269 (11th Cir. 2005). 4 This Court adopted as binding precedent all Fifth Circuit decisions rendered prior to October 1, 1981. Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc). 7 store cocaine and weapons under her bed and to have locks installed to the master bedroom, and then Jones, exclusively with Williams, maintained the keys to protect the cocaine, weapons, and cash. The quantity of cocaine, which Jones concedes she possessed, is too large for personal use, and the jury reasonably could have inferred from the quantity an intent to distribute the cocaine. See United States v. Perez-Tosta, 36 F.3d 1552, 1559 (11th Cir. 1994). The jury also could have inferred that Jones assisted in packaging the cocaine, as Jones’s fingerprints were found on the shoebox containing the cocaine and the sandwich baggies were found among her clothes. Finally, in the recorded telephone conversation, Jones demonstrated knowledge of Williams’s drug dealing activities, and the jury was entitled to infer that Jones facilitated those activities. The evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict that Jones aided and abetted Williams in possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. Jones next argues that her knowledge of the location of the guns, found under her bed, was not sufficient to prove that she facilitated Williams’s possession of the guns. To prove Jones aided and abetted Williams in possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in addition to establishing knowledge, the government must show some proof linking Jones to the guns. See Bazemore v. United States, 138 F.3d 947, 949 (11th Cir. 1998). Here again, the jury had 8 sufficient evidence to find that Jones enabled Williams’s possession, permitting Williams to store the guns under her bed and lock the bedroom door. Moreover, the guns were stored in close proximity to the drugs and scales which, as discussed above, the government sufficiently linked with Jones. Jones also lied to investigators about the guns, claiming that she was storing the guns for her brother. The jury was entitled to consider her lies as evidence of guilt. Thus, the evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict that Jones aided and abetted Williams in possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.