Opinion ID: 677661
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellants' Connection to Conspiracy

Text: 13 Evidence of even a slight connection, if proven beyond a reasonable doubt, is sufficient to convict a defendant of knowingly participating in an established conspiracy. United States v. Mares, 940 F.2d 455, 458 (9th Cir.1991). Moreover, such a connection may be inferred from circumstantial evidence. Id. It is sufficient to show that each defendant knew or had reason to know of the scope of the conspiracy and that each defendant had reason to believe that his own benefits were dependent upon the success of the entire venture. United States v. Brown, 912 F.2d 1040, 1043 (9th Cir.1990) (internal quotations and brackets omitted) (discussing standard for determining whether defendants are connected to single conspiracy and not multiple conspiracies). 14 The evidence sufficiently established appellants' connection to the conspiracy. The testimony of Duran and Reynoso puts to rest any question of the Beltrans' involvement in a marijuana conspiracy. Arturo was at the center of the conspiracy. He paid his co-conspirators, Duran and Reynoso, for keeping cocaine and marijuana at the stash houses. Arturo informed Duran as to the identities of individuals who would be purchasing drugs and he instructed Duran to deliver the drug money to him. 15 Vidal was also deeply involved in the conspiracy. He assisted in deliveries to the various stash houses and expressed an interest in purchasing marijuana from Aguilar. He attended meetings with his father concerning drug transactions. Specifically, Vidal argues that his mere proximity to the scene of the crime is insufficient to connect him to the conspiracy. Although he is correct in asserting that mere proximity is insufficient to establish the connection, see Mares, 940 F.2d at 458, Vidal was not merely in close proximity to the drug conspiracy. Rather, the evidence indicates that he was an active participant. 16 Quaill testified that when he contacted Arturo about the possibility of obtaining marijuana from him in 1986 or 1987, both Vidal and Arturo discussed the deal with him. Eventually, the Beltrans sold Quaill 300 pounds of marijuana. Duran testified that Vidal consistently helped his father in selling the marijuana that he and Reynoso kept from 1987 through 1992. Unaware that the Rex Street marijuana was his father's, Vidal expressed an interest in purchasing that marijuana when Aguilar told him about it. Vidal even took some of that marijuana to check it out. Aguilar testified that Vidal told him that they were using the Ganley Street residence to store marijuana. Aguilar also testified that he knew Vidal was involved in selling marijuana because Vidal once told him that Vidal's family was operating very nicely in trafficking marijuana. 17 Vidal was consistently involved at every stage of this conspiracy. He was more than merely present while the conspiracy was ongoing. Moreover, acts that otherwise appear innocent, when viewed in context, may support an inference of guilt. Mares, 940 F.2d at 458. The evidence was sufficient to establish both Arturo's and Vidal's connection. 18