Opinion ID: 692303
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Keeper's and Johnson's Conspiracy Convictions

Text: 14 Keeper and Johnson argue that insufficient evidence exists to support their conspiracy convictions. To support a conviction for a conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846, the government must show an agreement between at least two people and that the agreement's objective was a violation of the law. United States v. Maejia, 928 F.2d 810, 813 (8th Cir.1991). The government need not prove an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. Id. The evidence showing the conspiracy may be either direct or circumstantial; often proof of the agreement must be implied from the surrounding circumstances. Id. 15
16 The government introduced ample evidence establishing Keeper entered into a conspiracy to distribute heroin. We need not recite all the evidence against him. Vizcarra testified that in May 1993, he and Escobar brought eight ounces of heroin from California to St. Louis. Vizcarra testified that Escobar gave Keeper seven ounces of that heroin on credit. Vizcarra testified that Escobar expected payment for the heroin after Keeper resold it. Vizcarra testified that he, Escobar and Duarte again traveled to St. Louis with thirty ounces of heroin in July 1993. Escobar gave Keeper four ounces of this heroin on credit for distribution, prior to his arrest on July 15, 1993. Spivey testified that on one occasion he saw Keeper and Escobar at Coleman's apartment, 1003B Cole, and that Keeper was watching Escobar count approximately ten stacks of money. It is the jury's duty, not ours, to evaluate the credibility of these witnesses and weigh their testimony. United States v. Zerba, 21 F.3d 250, 252 (8th Cir.1994). 17 Documents bearing Keeper's home telephone number were recovered from both Escobar and Duarte. In addition to the heroin found on Keeper's person and in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, Keeper's fingerprints were also found in heroin residue found on a knife and in a frying pan during the search of 3219 Russell, Apartment 9. We are convinced that the evidence provides a sufficient basis for the jury's verdict that Keeper participated in the charged conspiracy to distribute heroin. 18
19 Once the existence of a conspiracy is established, only slight evidence is required to link Johnson to the conspiracy. Agofsky, 20 F.3d at 870. The government met this burden with respect to Johnson. 20 At trial, the government introduced evidence that during its surveillance activities, Johnson was observed with Keeper on three separate occasions. On July 15, 1993, Johnson was observed entering 3219 Russell, Apartment 9, and left with Keeper and Allen a short time later. Johnson was arrested immediately after leaving 3219 Russell, Apartment 9. During a search incident to arrest, 2.686 grams of 31% pure heroin were recovered from Johnson's person; at the station house, Johnson directed officers to .415 grams of 32% pure heroin in his hat that he claimed was planted by police officers. Testimony at trial revealed that possession of this amount and purity of heroin is indicative of distribution activities. 21 At the time of Johnson's arrest, Keeper and Allen accompanied him. They had just left 3219 Russell, Apartment 9, an apartment used to store heroin. Heroin was also recovered from Keeper, Allen and the vehicle that Keeper, Allen and Johnson were riding in. The quantity and purity of this heroin denoted possession for distribution purposes. Although, with respect to contraband, a mere sales agreement is not sufficient to support a conviction for conspiracy, evidence that drugs were purchased for resale [is] sufficient to support a conviction of conspiracy. United States v. West, 15 F.3d 119, 121 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 177, 130 L.Ed.2d 112 (1994). The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the government, supports the conclusion that heroin seized from Johnson was obtained at 3219 Russell, Apartment 9, and held for resale, not for personal use. Accordingly, it is sufficient to support Johnson's conspiracy conviction. From the evidence presented, the jury was entitled to infer the existence of an agreement to distribute cocaine and they were entitled to infer that Johnson received his heroin from Keeper who, in turn, received his supply from Escobar. 22