Opinion ID: 542884
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: June 16, 1988 narcotics transaction

Text: 27 Mr. Buggs maintains that the evidence adduced at trial cannot sustain his conviction for possessing with the intent to distribute half an ounce of heroin on June 16, 1988. He does not dispute that the package he sold to Officer Jones on that date contained heroin. Instead, he maintains that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the heroin was in the dark brown substance he provided, rather than the untested substance furnished by William Perry. Although Mr. Perry was searched and the government was aware that he had a small package of light brown powder with him, the powder was not tested. Mr. Buggs does not deny that the heroin could have been in the dark brown substance, but claims it is just as likely that Mr. Perry supplied the drug. Appellant's Br. at 14. This claim is nothing more than an attack on the credibility of Mr. Perry. Such an issue is for the jury's determination. See United States ex rel. Morton v. Mancusi, 393 F.2d 482, 484 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 927, 89 S.Ct. 262, 21 L.Ed.2d 264 (1968). 15 Based on the trial testimony, the jury concluded that on June 16, 1988, Mr. Buggs possessed and intended to distribute heroin. We are invited to reassess that testimony, a function we cannot and will not undertake. 28 Examining the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, United States v. Hogan, 886 F.2d 1497, 1502 (7th Cir.1989), it is clear that the jury verdict is supported by a permissible view of that evidence. Laboratory tests conclusively determined that the package sold to Officer Jones contained heroin. Mr. Buggs does not dispute that the package contained a mixture of the dark brown substance he provided and the powder supplied by William Perry. Mr. Perry testified that the powder was lactose, nothing more. He also testified that he ingested a small amount of the dark brown substance and determined, based upon past experience, that it was heroin. This was sufficient evidence to sustain Mr. Buggs' conviction.