Opinion ID: 600755
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence to Convict Tansley of Conspiracy

Text: 10 The standard used for sufficiency of evidence is whether any juror could reasonably find the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Martinez, 975 F.2d 159, 161 (5th Cir.1992). This court reviews the evidence, both direct and circumstantial, and all its inferences, in the light most favorable to the verdict. United States v. Osum, 943 F.2d 1394, 1404 (5th Cir.1991). To prove conspiracy the government is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that two or more persons agreed to commit a crime and that at least one of them committed an overt act in furtherance of that agreement. United States v. Duncan, 919 F.2d 981, 991 (5th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 2036, 114 L.Ed.2d 121 (1991). There is ample evidence of the agreement to commit the scheme, that Tansley himself was a manager in that scheme and that he personally committed acts in its implementation. The evidence was clearly sufficient to support Tansley's conviction of conspiracy. There was testimony that he presented various design and wording samples to Cox and NAC and caused the cards to be actually mailed out. There was also evidence that Tansley offered advice on which states to mail to so as to avoid heightened scrutiny. The appellant knew of the inflated value of the prizes actually sent and that the alleged prizes never were actually won by anyone. He personally had the cards modified to increase the closing rate of the scam's victims. 11 Tansley took care of virtually all the logistics of the conspiracy except for the phone sell. Several witnesses testified that Tansley suggested and introduced various factors to the telemarketers. In short, there was strong evidence that Tansley was not only involved in the conspiracy from the beginning but that he also was a manager of the mailings and instrumental in instituting the credit card slip laundering. The weight and credibility of the evidence is solely decided by the jury. United States v. Pena, 949 F.2d 751, 756 (5th Cir.1991). An appellate court will not supplant the jury's determination of credibility with that of its own. Martinez, 975 F.2d at 161. The government clearly proved its charge of conspiracy against the appellant.