Opinion ID: 411137
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 13 In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a defendant's conviction, the jury's verdict must be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the government, to support it. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); United States v. Chaparro-Almeida, 679 F.2d 423, 427 (5th Cir.1982). Reviewing the evidence in this light, the testimony and facts adduced at trial readily support appellant's conviction. 14 Jones filed a return for herself on two occasions which contained false income figures. On two other occasions she filed returns which claimed head of household status for her 10-year-old daughter, which claimed two non-existent children of her minor daughter and which contained false income figures. Jones's co-conspirator John Barra testified as to the appellant's participation in the scheme. Jones furnished Barra with the names, addresses and social security numbers for 34 other returns, many of which were filed on behalf of minor children. She and her co-conspirator agreed upon false income figures and fictitious dependent children to be used in the returns. 15 The government presented a series of other witnesses who testified that Jones had solicited their social security numbers and the social security numbers of their minor children. Jones had checks mailed to her address or the address of acquaintances. She directed witnesses to tell IRS investigators that they did not know her. Jones cashed or aided in the cashing of several checks. None of the government's testimony was refuted. On the contrary, much of it was admitted by Jones when she took the stand. In sum, the government's evidence was not merely sufficient, but rather, it was overwhelming.