Opinion ID: 506212
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Kuntze

Text: 140 Kuntze contends that the evidence at trial was insufficient to sustain his convictions for conspiracy and for aiding and abetting in connection with the Granbury episode. He avers that the only evidence linking him with that episode was Spratlen's testimony that on the day following the drop, he and Kuntze drove to the drop site and looked for the missing bags: 141 We spent the night there, the following day me and Lon Kuntze went out to the drop site and ... Ben [Barrington] flew over to see if we could find it and he called me on the ground-to-air radio and told me he couldn't see nothing and me and Lon Kuntze walked the drop site to see if we could find the seven bags. 142 While it would have been legally impossible for Kuntze to have conspired with the government informer, Spratlen, there is strong circumstantial evidence that he was acting pursuant to an agreement with Barrington. There was testimony that Kuntze flew into Fort Worth with Barrington after Barrington learned that some of the bags were missing. It was the next day that Kuntze, together with Spratlen, searched the drop site for the missing bags, while Barrington directed the operation from the air. This is clearly enough evidence to connect Kuntze's activities as conspiratorial with Barrington. We affirm Kuntze's conspiracy convictions under counts 14 and 20. 143 The same evidence supports Kuntze's convictions for aiding and abetting. 144 To prove aiding and abetting, the government must prove that the defendant associated with a criminal venture, participated in the venture, and sought by his action to make the venture succeed. [Citation omitted.] The defendant must share the principal's criminal intent and engage in some affirmative conduct designed to aid the venture. [Citations omitted.] 145 Manotas-Mejia, 824 F.2d at 367. This evidence shows that Kuntze associated himself with the venture and sought by his action to make it succeed. We affirm his conviction for aiding and abetting under counts 15 and 21. 146 Kuntze also argues that his convictions under counts 6, 25, and 27 are barred by the Double Jeopardy Clause, since only one cocaine conspiracy existed. The point is moot. We have found the evidence insufficient to establish the existence of the conspiracies charged in counts 6 and 27. In summary, Kuntze's convictions under counts 14, 15, 20, 21, and 25 are affirmed.