Opinion ID: 2978839
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Facts Related to Counts Fourteen and Seventeen

Text: Counts Fourteen and Seventeen also charged Slayton with violating 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) for using a telephone to facilitate the commission of a conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Both of these Counts involved phone conversations between Slayton and co-conspirator Edward Jackson. Count Fourteen of the indictment charged for an offense that occurred “on or about July 19, 1998, at approximately 8:54 p.m.” However, the transcript for the July 19 recording shows that the conversation actually took place at 10:54 a.m. Similarly, Count Seventeen charged Slayton for a phone conversation “on or about July 27, 1998, at approximately 11:47 a.m.” Again, the transcript for this July 27 exchange between Slayton and Jackson shows that the conversation began at 11:34 a.m., rather than 11:47 a.m. as charged in the indictment. -5- No. 08-5428 USA v. Slayton In the hopes of having his sentence reduced, Edward Jackson (“Edward”) testified at Slayton’s trial about the substance of the conversations. Edward testified that he sold Slayton powder cocaine on numerous occasions during the period of the conspiracy. According to Edward, he last sold Slayton cocaine a few days before his arrest on July 30. He also specifically testified about the recordings at issue in Counts Fourteen and Seventeen. In questioning Edward about the conversation at issue in Count Fourteen, the government identified it as a call that took place on July 19 at 10:54 a.m. The government referred to the conversation at issue in Count Seventeen as occurring at 11:34 a.m. Slayton’s attorney also questioned Edward about the recordings during cross examination. His attorney acknowledged the days on which the calls took place, but did not specifically address the times. After the jury returned the verdict, Slayton moved for a judgment of acquittal on Counts Nine and Twelve because he argued that the government failed to carry its burden of showing proof of a conspiracy as to Count Nine and proof that an actual transaction was facilitated as to Count Twelve. In addition, Slayton moved for judgment of acquittal as to Counts Fourteen and Seventeen because no evidence was admitted showing phone calls on July 19 at 10:54 p.m. or July 27 at 11:47 a.m. The district court denied Slayton’s motion and determined that a rational jury could find the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt based on the evidence presented. In addition, the district court treated Slayton’s claims as to Counts Fourteen and Seventeen as arguments that a material variance occurred between the indictment and the proof at trial. The district court then determined that no variance occurred because the indictment used the terms “approximately” and “on or about.” The district court further noted that Slayton could not show prejudice because he had the benefit of -6- No. 08-5428 USA v. Slayton pretrial discovery and should have been alerted to which recordings formed the basis for the charges in Counts Fourteen and Seventeen. Slayton brings this appeal. He first argues that insufficient evidence exists to sustain the convictions on Counts Nine and Twelve. He also argues that a material variance occurred between the indictment and the proof offered at trial on Counts Fourteen and Seventeen.