Opinion ID: 360504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence Underlying Count One Conspiracy.

Text: 15 We will first consider the plethora of challenges to the conspiracy convictions, sorting through the evidentiary labyrinth erected in the four week trial. All of the appellants were convicted under Count One, and all but five challenge the sufficiency of the evidence underlying their convictions. The five who do not claim that there was insufficient evidence for their conviction on this count were the conspirators who actually ran the operation the central core of Dorman Chandler and Sam Alta Dryden, and the working group of tappers and delivery personnel: Claude Wayne Cole, Dennis Chandler, and Alan Wayne Thompson. 2 The facts, as detailed in the previous section, make it clear that there was sufficient evidence to support the conspiracy convictions of these most active defendants. 3 It is also important to note that there is no question raised on appeal as to the admission of hearsay testimony. 16 With the evidence concerning the core of the conspiracy unchallenged, we turn now to the evidence against the defendants more peripherally involved the gas station owners and police officers. We are compelled, of course, to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); and we must make all reasonable inferences and credibility choices as will support the jury's verdict. United States v. Squella-Avendano, 478 F.2d 433, 435 (5th Cir. 1973). However, as to each of these appellants, the evidence respecting his participation in the conspiracy must of itself be sufficient so that the jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that each knew of the conspiracy, had the deliberate, knowing, and specific intent to join the conspiracy; United States v. Prince, 515 F.2d 564, 567 (5th Cir. 1975); and that some member of the conspiracy committed an overt act in furtherance of the illegal operation; United States v. Trevino, 556 F.2d 1265 (5th Cir. 1977). Due to the inherently secret nature of a successful conspiracy, this membership and requisite knowledge may be based upon reasonable inferences and circumstantial evidence, United States v. Becker,569 F.2d 951, 961 (1978); otherwise, conspirators might go free by their very ingenuity. 17
18 These appellants argue that even when viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the only evidence linking them to the conspiracy was the testimony that several trucks suspected of delivering stolen gasoline were observed at their stations. They contend that for us to affirm their convictions on Count One we must find that delivery and delivery alone is sufficient to prove an agreement to steal or receive stolen gasoline. We disagree. Without deciding whether receipt and thus possession of recently stolen property is alone sufficient to infer knowing participation in the conspiracy, we find there was sufficient additional evidence so that the jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that each knew of the conspiracy, had the requisite intent to join the conspiracy, and that there were acts by various coconspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy. 19
20 Jimmy George owned an independent station in Tallapoosa. He ordered less gasoline from his legitimate suppliers during the months of the conspiracy than he had during the same months of the previous year. Millard Mann, Tallapoosa police officers Williams and Robinson, Georgia Revenue Agent Vance Posey, and various FBI agents all observed late night, clandestine deliveries to his station by the various trucks involved in the conspiracy. Further, George was observed paying money to Alta Dryden for what the jury could have found was a debt incurred from purchasing stolen gasoline. This evidence was sufficient to sustain the jury's verdict against appellant George on Count One.2. Buran Robinson. 21 Buran Robinson owned a Standard Station in Tallapoosa. In addition to ordering less legitimate gas during the conspiracy and having surreptitious deliveries observed at his station by Mann and Officer Williams, the government introduced the testimony of one Agnes Brown, that on August 31, 1976, the day on which many of the arrests in this case were made, she was told by Robinson that he was afraid that he too would be arrested because he had been buying stolen gasoline along with many other Tallapoosa station owners. This very damaging admission, when read in conjunction with the other direct and circumstantial evidence, was sufficient for the jury to have found he knew of the conspiracy and infer that he had the required intent to join it. 22 3. Clarence Newborn. 23 Newborn did not own, but managed the Union 76 Station in Tallapoosa. 4 The evidence of his guilt is strong. Numerous covert deliveries to the 76 Station were observed by Mann, Agent Posey, and Officer Williams. During one of the deliveries observed by Officer Williams, gasoline was discovered spilling from the delivery truck out into the street. Newborn was called to clean up the spill and shortly after he arrived, Dorman Chandler the central figure in the conspiracy mysteriously appeared to converse with Newborn. Additionally, testimony was admitted without objection that Alta Dryden had told Mann that Newborn was delinquent in his payments for the stolen gas he had received. Appellant Newborn's guilt was clear, and we affirm his conviction. 24 4. Travis Williams. 25 Travis Williams owned a Shell Station in Tallapoosa. Williams ordered less legitimate gasoline during the conspiracy; had numerous clandestine deliveries observed by Mann, Williams, Robinson, Posey, and the FBI; and was observed paying Alta Dryden for gas he had received. This is sufficient evidence to sustain his conviction on Count One. 26 5. Curtis Morrow. 27 Morrow owned a Union 76 Station in Fruithurst, Alabama. He ordered less legitimate gas during the months of the conspiracy. While the evidence of actual delivery of stolen gas to his station was less specific Mann and Posey only saw delivery trucks parked at his station late at night the testimony of Jack Norton, the sheriff of the Alabama county in which a tap was located, that Morrow approached him in behalf of some big men with big money to pay him $500 down and $200 a month concerning a gas tap operation was sufficient for the jury to infer both knowledge of the conspiracy and intent to join and further its cause. 28 6. Duel Bowling. 29 Bowling owned a Hess Station in Carrollton, Georgia. His records show a considerable drop in legitimate gasoline orders during the months of the conspiracy, even though he had installed dual pumps, which gave him an increased capability to pump gas. Although no actual deliveries were observed at his station, an attempted delivery was seen and photographed by the FBI surveillance team. Moreover, testimony was introduced without objection that Mann once overheard Alta Dryden state that a load of gas was to be taken to Bowling's Hess Station. Finally, telephone records indicated a significant series of calls between Bowling's station and Alta Dryden's store during the months of the conspiracy. This evidence is sufficient to sustain the jury's verdict against appellant Bowling.7. Sammy Robinson. 30 The government's case against appellant Sammy Robinson was somewhat weaker than its case against the appellants discussed above. We conclude, nevertheless, that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's finding of guilt on Count One. Sammy Robinson owned the Triangle Shell Station and store in Tallapoosa. He ordered less gas during the months of the conspiracy. Officer Williams saw one of the delivery trucks parked at the Triangle Station, and Officer Robinson observed one of the trucks manned by an unidentified male at the station with a hose extending from it, as if delivering gas. Both of these observations were between midnight and six a. m., when the stations were closed for normal business. We find that in view of the well-established overall conspiracy, the late night deliveries in custom rigged farm trucks, and the dramatic decrease in the amounts of gasoline ordered during the peak months of the conspiracy, the evidence was sufficient for the jury to infer the requisite knowledge and intent, and thus, we affirm the conviction. 31
32 Both Jimmy Doyle Folsom, the chief of police of Tallapoosa, and Robert Lee Rolsom, the assistant chief of police, attack their convictions on Count One on the grounds that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's verdict. The government argues that the Folsoms performed an integral role in the conspiracy, engaging in activities to cover up and protect the illegal gasoline deliveries. 33
34 The evidence against the chief of police is strong. When Officer Williams told Chief Folsom of the late night gasoline spill at the Union 76 Station operated by Clarence Newborn, the chief told Williams not to worry about it because the state was working on the case. In fact, at that time no state or federal agency was specifically aware of these illegal activities in Tallapoosa. Later, when Officer Williams was discussing the spill on the police radio, Chief Folsom told him that he should not talk about it because it would hurt the state's case. As a result of these admonitions, Officer Williams did not report the spill or any other information concerning these covert gasoline deliveries until he and his partner were approached by Georgia Revenue Agent Posey. 35 Chief Folsom was further implicated by Walker Abercrombie's testimony that the chief had offered to sell him and Andy Devine gasoline for $.25 a gallon. The appellant attempts to discredit this testimony, which, while proper for the jury's consideration, has no merit on appeal. We find that Officer Williams' testimony, when read in conjunction with that of Walker Abercrombie, clearly provided sufficient evidence for the jury to find that Chief Folsom was an active member of the conspiracy. 36
37 As to the assistant chief of police, the only evidence that could support his conviction on Count One was the testimony of two witnesses that he drove through or was present at service stations where deliveries of stolen gasoline were potentially taking place. Although Millard Mann testified that Buddy Folsom twice drove through stations while gas was being delivered, he stated that Folsom only circled through the front portion of the stations on what appeared to be on a normal patrol of the town and may not have seen the delivery of the stolen gas which was occurring toward the rear of the station. Further, Mann clearly stated that as far as he knew, Robert Folsom had no knowledge at all of the conspiracy. The only other evidence against the assistant chief was the testimony of George Haygood that on his way to work one morning in the late summer of 1976, he saw Buddy Folsom at Travis Williams' Shell Station, standing near one of the delivery trucks with several unidentified males. As Haygood drove past the station, the other individuals ducked down in what appeared to be an attempt to hide; whereas Folsom simply waved. At most, this evidence could raise a suspicion that Robert Folsom may have been aware that a crime was being committed. There is no evidence from which the jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that he was a knowing member of this conspiracy. Mere knowledge, approval, or acquiescence in the object or purpose of a conspiracy is insufficient to prove participation in it. United States v. Falcone, 311 U.S. 205, 61 S.Ct. 204, 85 L.Ed. 128 (1940). Further, mere presence at the scene of a crime or mere association with the members of a conspiracy is not enough to sustain a conviction for conspiracy. United States v. James, 528 F.2d 999, 1013 (5th Cir. 1976). While Robert Folsom's presence at these events may raise some doubts about his role, we conclude as a matter of law that the evidentiary foundation relied upon by the government is too flimsy and insubstantial to support a guilty verdict of conspiracy to steal gasoline from interstate pipelines. 38