Opinion ID: 666625
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Conspiracy pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846

Text: 31 To support Vegas's conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that: (1) a conspiracy existed; (2) Vegas knew of the essential objectives of the conspiracy; and (3) Vegas knowingly and voluntarily participated in the conspiracy. United States v. Andrews, 953 F.2d 1312, 1318 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 3007, 120 L.Ed.2d 882 (1992). To prove Vegas's knowing and voluntary participation, the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [he] had a deliberate, knowing, and specific intent to join the conspiracy. United States v. Jenkins, 779 F.2d 606, 609 (11th Cir.1986). The jury is free to infer participation in the conspiracy from the defendant's action or from circumstantial evidence of the scheme. United States v. Cross, 928 F.2d 1030 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 594, 116 L.Ed.2d 618 (1991). 32 Vegas does not contest that the government proved that a conspiracy involving some or all of his codefendants existed. Instead, he focuses on the second and third elements of the government's proof, arguing that the government failed to prove he knew of the conspiracy or that he knowingly and voluntarily participated in it. Once the governments establishes the existence of the underlying conspiracy, however, it only needs to come forward with slight evidence to connect a particular defendant to the conspiracy. United States v. Gates, 967 F.2d 497, 499 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 632, 121 L.Ed.2d 563 (1992). The government passed this minimal threshold based on the following facts and circumstances. 33 Vegas and Ford were close friends who knew each other since at least the mid-1980s. Sometime after Ford moved to Atlanta, Vegas accompanied him, and thereafter, lived in Ford's home without paying room or board. During the search of Ford's home, agents discovered approximately eleven kilograms of high-purity cocaine, $36,000 in cash, several firearms, money wrappers, zip lock baggies, razor blades, a used kilogram wrapper, drug ledgers, and two scales scattered around the house. Following his arrest, Vegas admitted having access to all parts of the house, and agents discovered cocaine in his bedroom. 34 Vegas contends that this evidence is insufficient to support his conviction because it merely shows his close association with Ford and his mere presence at the crime scene. United States v. Sarro, 742 F.2d 1286, 1298 (11th Cir.1984). We disagree. At a minimum, the evidence showed that Vegas lived in and possessed full access to a house loaded with drug paraphernalia and implements of the drug trade. The evidence also showed that he lived a very comfortable lifestyle without any source of income. Finally, the evidence shows he was a close friend of a cocaine distributor. From these facts and circumstances, reasonable jurors could properly conclude that Vegas knew that a drug conspiracy existed, that Ford distributed cocaine, and used the home in furtherance of the conspiracy. 35 The government also introduced circumstantial evidence of Vegas's voluntary participation in the conspiracy. Cross, 928 F.2d at 1042. Although we do not necessarily agree with the government's assertion that Vegas was a minion over the drugs, we conclude that because the government proved a conspiracy existed, the following evidence supplied a sufficient basis for a reasonable juror to conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Vegas participated in the conspiracy to distribute drugs. 36 In addition to the evidence showing Vegas lived in the home of a large cocaine distributor and knew of the conspiracy, the government showed that Vegas often accompanied Ford on overnight trips and that on a recent trip, occurring only days before the search, Ford gave Kathy Luchie $1,000 in cash, after he and Vegas returned. This suggests that the trip involved drugs. The government also showed that agents discovered cocaine in Vegas's bedroom with purity matching that of the cocaine found in the basement. The government also showed that at the time of his arrest, Vegas was not gainfully employed, possessed several false identification cards, including one from Sensations nightclub with his picture and an assumed name, and carried Atwater's pager number. Finally, although Vegas claimed that he worked as the caretaker of the home, Luchie testified that he did nothing around the home except care for the dogs and watch television. 37 If viewed in a vacuum, each of these facts may support an innocent explanation. Taken as a whole, however, they provide sufficient evidence for a reasonable juror to conclude that Vegas voluntarily participated in the conspiracy, if only in a minor way. United States v. Obregon, 893 F.2d 1307, 1311 (11th Cir.) (minor participation is sufficient to bring a person into the ambit of the conspiracy), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1090, 110 S.Ct. 1833, 108 L.Ed.2d 961 (1990); Bascaro, 742 F.2d at 1359. When viewed in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the jury's verdict, the government's evidence was sufficient to allow the jury to infer that Vegas both knew of the conspiracy and voluntarily joined it. 38