Opinion ID: 510995
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Proof of the Conspiracy

Text: 4
5 The defendants contend the evidence established multiple conspiracies when only a single conspiracy was charged and that they were prejudiced by this variance. The defendants also argue the district court committed error by refusing to instruct the jury on multiple conspiracies. In determining whether the evidence established a single conspiracy or multiple conspiracies, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to upholding the jury verdict. See United States v. Lee, 782 F.2d 133, 134 (8th Cir.1986); United States v. Towers, 775 F.2d 184, 189 (7th Cir.1985). We must decide whether the record contained evidence from which the jury could have found one overall agreement to commit an illegal act--here, the distribution of drugs. See Lee, 782 F.2d at 134. 6 According to the defendants, the testimony of Frank Noble's nephew, DeWitt, established a conspiracy separate from the single conspiracy charged. Noble, the supplier for Miller's drug operation, furnished DeWitt with drugs for sale and distribution. DeWitt then sold the drugs from a house owned by Noble. DeWitt eventually stopped selling drugs, and Noble sold the house to Miller. 7 The defendants stress that DeWitt was unable to identify Miller at the trial and may not have known the other defendants with the exception of Noble. Nevertheless, DeWitt was aware of Miller and did not have to be personally acquainted with Miller or the other defendants in order to participate in the single conspiracy. See United States v. Massa, 740 F.2d 629, 636 (8th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1115, 105 S.Ct. 2357, 86 L.Ed.2d 258 (1985); United States v. Brewer, 630 F.2d 795, 799-800 (10th Cir.1980). We have carefully considered the record, and we conclude that Noble and DeWitt were not involved in a conspiracy separate from the single conspiracy charged. 8 The defendants also argue that separate and distinct conspiracies were established by the early criminal activities of Miller and Vincent Beauregard. At the trial, the Government introduced evidence of Miller's drug-related activities in the late 1960s, which included several arrests. Additionally, the Government presented evidence that in late 1969 and early 1970 police twice investigated a St. Louis residence for narcotics. Beauregard was present and arrested both times. The record, however, contains no evidence to show these activities constituted separate conspiracies. Rather, the incidents were only isolated criminal acts that were unrelated to each other. 9 Finally, Noble and Beauregard contend the evidence established separate conspiracies between Miller and each of them. We disagree. Noble, as the supplier to this large operation, and Beauregard, as a member of Miller's selling entourage, knowingly contributed to the single, ongoing drug conspiracy. See Massa, 740 F.2d at 636; see also Brewer, 630 F.2d at 799-800. The evidence does not support a finding of separate conspiracies here. 10 Although various defendants entered the conspiracy at different times and performed different functions, the conspiracy had one criminal objective: to sell large quantities of methamphetamine or other drugs. This type of enterprise, by its very nature, is a loosely knit organization, Brewer, 630 F.2d at 799, and a jury may find a defendant guilty of conspiracy even if that defendant plays only a minor role in the total scheme, United States v. Lee, 743 F.2d 1240, 1250 (8th Cir.1984). The evidence established a single conspiracy, and thus, the district court did not commit error by refusing to give a multiple conspiracy instruction. See United States v. Kirk, 534 F.2d 1262, 1269 (8th Cir.1976), cert. denied, 433 U.S. 907, 97 S.Ct. 2971, 53 L.Ed.2d 1091, 430 U.S. 906, 97 S.Ct. 1174, 51 L.Ed.2d 581 (1977); see also Towers, 775 F.2d at 189. 11 Similarly, because the evidence established a single conspiracy, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying the defendants' motions to sever. In general, the individuals  'charged in a conspiracy should be tried together, particularly whe[n] proof of the charges against the defendants is based upon the same evidence and acts.'  United States v. Garcia, 785 F.2d 214, 220 (8th Cir.) (quoting Lee, 743 F.2d at 1248), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1143, 106 S.Ct. 1797, 90 L.Ed.2d 342 (1986). Although several defendants claim the evidence against them was slight compared to the evidence against the other defendants, the [d]istrict [c]ourt was not required to sever defendants    simply because the evidence may have been more damaging against one [defendant] than the others. Id.
12 The defendants argue the Government's introduction of earlier criminal acts by Beauregard and Miller constituted other crimes evidence and thus violated Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). We need not decide whether these criminal acts were properly admitted because we conclude that any error in admitting this evidence was harmless. See United States v. Nichols, 808 F.2d 660, 663 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 107 S.Ct. 1976, 95 L.Ed.2d 816 (1987). 13 We do not believe the defendants have been prejudiced. First, only Miller and Beauregard were involved in these criminal activities. Because none of the other defendants was implicated, the jury could have easily separated this evidence to reflect only on Miller and Beauregard. Second, the record contained evidence clearly connecting Miller and Beauregard to the drug conspriacy. Thus, the impact of these earlier acts was minimal. See United States v. O'Connell, 841 F.2d 1408, 1423 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 2857, 101 L.Ed.2d 893 (1988). Finally, the strong evidence against all of the defendants convinces us that the jury's verdict was not affected by these isolated criminal acts. See Nichols, 808 F.2d at 663-64. 14 Several defendants assert the district court committed error in admitting evidence that murder and assault occurred during the course of the conspiracy. In addition, Noble challenges the Government's introduction of a 1979 arrest in which he was found in possession of a pistol and drugs. The Government responds by arguing that these matters were admissible as evidence of the conspiracy. We agree. 15 The district court has particularly broad discretion in determining the evidence to be admitted at a conspiracy trial. United States v. Apker, 705 F.2d 293, 298 (8th Cir.1983) (rehearing en banc on other limited grounds, United States v. Fitzgerald, 724 F.2d 633, 634-35 (8th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 950, 104 S.Ct. 2151, 80 L.Ed.2d 538 (1984)), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1005, 104 S.Ct. 996, 79 L.Ed.2d 229 (1984). Here, the evidence was relevant to the operation of this ongoing conspiracy. See, e.g., United States v. Cintolo, 818 F.2d 980, 997-98 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 259, 98 L.Ed.2d 216 (1987); United States v. Bueno-Risquet, 799 F.2d 804, 813-14 (2d Cir.1986); United States v. Markowski, 772 F.2d 358, 366 (7th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1018, 106 S.Ct. 1202, 89 L.Ed.2d 316 (1986). Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the evidence. 16 Noble and Beauregard contend the district court committed error by admitting evidence that these defendants failed to report all of their income on their tax returns. We conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion. This evidence showed the defendants' expenditures exceeded their reported earnings and was relevant to establishing that the unreported income was probably derived from illegal activities. See United States v. Dazzo, 672 F.2d 284, 289 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 836, 103 S.Ct. 81, 74 L.Ed.2d 77 (1982). 17
18 Noble asserts the district court committed error by allowing two Government witnesses to testify that Miller said Noble had supplied the methamphetamine to the drug operation. The district court admitted this testimony under the coconspirator's exception to the hearsay rule. See Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(E). Noble further argues that independent of the coconspirator's statements the evidence was insufficient to establish his participation in the conspiracy. We find Noble's arguments frivolous. 19 Before admitting the statements under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(E), the district court had to determine by a preponderance of the evidence that a conspiracy involving Miller and Noble existed and that Miller made the challenged statements during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy, id. See Bourjaily v. United States, --- U.S. ----, ----, 107 S.Ct. 2775, 2778, 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987). In doing so, the court could consider the challenged statements. See id. at ----, 107 S.Ct. at 2781; United States v. Cerone, 830 F.2d 938, 948 (8th Cir.1987), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 1730, 100 L.Ed.2d 194 (1988). After reviewing the record, including the challenged statements, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the statements. 20 In addition to Noble, various other defendants challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to connect them to the conspiracy. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, United States v. O'Connell, 841 F.2d 1408, 1424 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 2857, 101 L.Ed.2d 893 (1988), we find the evidence more than sufficient to establish each defendant's participation in the conspiracy.