Opinion ID: 2002580
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Analysis of the Facts of This Case

Text: We now proceed to analysis of the facts of this case, in light of the foregoing, to determine if 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 111 barred reprosecution of appellant in this case. We find that it did. The relevant overt acts in the federal conspiracy were a series of bulk purchases of cocaine for resale, by appellant from Moskovitz. The relevant overt act in the state conspiracy was a single sale of a smaller bulk amount of cocaine for resale, by appellant to Ms. Janoski and Mr. Lipinski. Appellant is the only person designated as a named conspirator in both conspiracies. The overt act alleged in furtherance of the state conspiracy occurred during the continuance of the federal conspiracy. The acts of both conspiracies occurred in the same general area. Both conspiracies involved the illegal sale of cocaine. In light of the absence of any indication that appellant used any source other than Moskovitz as a supply for his wholesale/retail cocaine distribution operation, it would appear that, vis a vis appellant, the sale of cocaine which formed the basis of the present state conspiracy charge could quite possibly have been a necessary facet of his ongoing conspiracy with Moskovitz to wholesale and/or retail cocaine. Plainly, the distribution of cocaine from an importer to a wholesaler or retailer envisions and in fact requires the wholesaler or retailer to enter into further agreements with others to profitably dispose of the wholesaler's or retailer's inventory, thereby providing capital for future intended purchases from the importer. Thus, the fact that appellant was the sole link between the conspiracies was rendered virtually insignificant in light of appellant's roles as a buyer in the federal conspiracy, and as a seller in the alleged state conspiracy. While it is possible that appellant had a separate cocaine source for the sale to Ms. Janowski and Mr. Lipinski and that the state conspiracy was entirely unrelated to the federal conspiracy, on this record, it is at least equally likely that the state conspiracy was merely a necessary facet of the broader federal conspiracy. Consequently, we conclude that the Commonwealth failed to meet its burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that separate conspiracies were involved, and likewise failed to establish the existence of substantially different interests to be protected by the second conspiracy prosecution within the meaning of the different required facts/substantially different interests exception to the bar on reprosecution. See Commonwealth v. Abbott, supra ; Commonwealth v. Mascaro, supra . [10]