Opinion ID: 2972356
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Victor Medellin’s Case

Text: For his part in the conspiracy, Medellin sold cocaine to Jim Williams, the undercover TBI agent, in three observed and recorded transactions. On July 18, 2000, during the first transaction, Agent Williams had planned to meet Alejandro Cortez, one of Medellin’s co-defendants, at Medellin’s house in order to purchase an ounce of cocaine. According to Williams, Cortez was not there when he arrived, so Medellin telephoned Cortez to inform him that Williams wanted an ounce of cocaine. Immediately following his conversation with Cortez, Medellin instructed Williams to go to Cedar Hill Road in Hamblen County, where he could purchase an ounce of cocaine from Cortez. During the second transaction, on August 8, 2000, Williams again went to Medellin’s home, where he expected to meet Cortez and to purchase two ounces of cocaine. After a short wait, Cortez and Medellin arrived together. Medellin instructed Cortez to take Williams to the back of the house to do the deal. The third transaction occurred on August 14, 2000, when Williams called Cortez’s cellular telephone and Benetiz answered. Williams placed an order for two ounces and was instructed to proceed to Medellin’s home. When Williams arrived, Medellin was outside working on his truck. After waiting a while, Medellin went inside to call Benitez. After he was unable to reach Benitez, Medellin asked Williams how much cocaine he needed. In light of the fact that Williams had been waiting for quite some time, Medellin offered to sell him two ounces of cocaine on Benitez’s behalf. Medellin stressed to Williams that he was still Cortez’s customer. As Williams was leaving Page 5 of 14 Medellin’s residence following this initial transaction, surveillance agents at Benitez’s residence contacted Williams and notified him that Benitez was en route to Medellin’s home. Williams then instructed a confidential informant accompanying him to telephone Benitez and tell him that they had not been able to wait and had gone ahead and purchased two ounces from Medellin, but that they needed another ounce. Benitez directed them to meet him at an Exxon station in Morristown, Tennessee, where Benitez later sold Williams another ounce. During this later recorded transaction, Benitez informed Williams that the cocaine he had purchased from Medellin and Cortez had come from him and that they both worked for him. Cortez testified that he obtained, from Benitez, ounce packages of cocaine that he sold on a weekly basis. Cortez and Medellin were friends, and he believed that Medellin also obtained his cocaine from Benitez. Dominguez, who also testified against Ramirez, said that he knew that Medellin was one of several people who helped Benitez sell cocaine. Hernandez, another person who testified against both Ramirez and Medellin, admitted that he purchased cocaine from Medellin on two occasions. On both occasions, Hernandez purchased from Medellin because Benitez was out of cocaine. Reynoso identified Medellin as one of those individuals who sometimes accompanied Benitez when he came to pick up cocaine. Medellin also came several times on his own to get cocaine and marijuana, receiving one ounce of cocaine, and usually between five and nine ounces of marijuana. Reynoso did not know Medellin’s customers and never witnessed him sell drugs. The jury convicted Medellin on Count 5 (distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)), Count 14 (use of a telephone to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b)), Counts 15 and 20 Page 6 of 14 (distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) & § 841(b)(1)(C)), and Count 19 (aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and 18 U.S.C. §2). After he was found guilty, Medellin filed a motion for a judgment of acquittal and for a new trial. The district court denied both of these motions.