Opinion ID: 540010
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Fernando Padron.

Text: 54 Padron claims that the evidence presented was insufficient to support his conviction under count one for narcotics conspiracy. While conceding his knowledge of the existence and goals of the conspiracy, Padron claims that his membership in the conspiracy was improperly presumed because of his association with his roommate, an individual named Jimmy, who, Padron contends, was the manager of one of the organization's sales locations. 55 We disagree. The government contended that Padron comanaged one of the heroin sales locations with his roommate Jimmy. One of the intercepted conversations played for the jury contained the following exchange between Padron and Flores regarding that location: 56 FLORES: (UI), uh, why didn't you people send money today? 57 PADRON: Because we, we were in the, uh ... because we're (UI) here. He beeped and (UI) to beep ... waiting to (UI) that you had left already. That's why we didn't send it. We had it upstairs. 58 FLORES: Okay, uh ... okay. I'm gonna--you'll be sent goods tomorrow. But you guys have to--one thing--you guys have to send everyday ... You guys have to improve the spot, and you have to send every day, okay? 59 PADRON: But if--look, Nelson, let me give you some details. The spot was improving. We were sending you (UI) day everything that ... everything (UI). Does (UI) think that we don't pay ... don't pay? Everything we sent was (UI) ... 60 FLORES: And it has to be (UI) everyday. See they are complaining that, that ... 61 PADRON: That's why we wanted that a higher amount of material be sent, to make a little--only one payment for the amount of material because this way we ... [stutters] ... (UI) 62 FLORES: Yeah, but since you didn't send, didn't (UI) ... they're not--Anyway, that's fine, forget it. We'll ... open for you tomorrow. 63 PADRON: Early? 64 FLORES: Early. Beep ... beep me. If they don't bring anything over to you in an hour, beep me. I'll get it for you myself. 65 PADRON: That's fine. 66 There was testimony at trial that Padron acknowledged, at the time of his arrest and after receiving Miranda warnings, his participation in the quoted conversation. Padron was also mentioned by Flores in another conversation with Cruz regarding the closing of the heroin sales location. In that conversation Flores was heard to say Did you ... by any chance tell Jimmy or Fernando that we were closing them down. Additionally, the jury was presented with drug ledgers containing notations for Nando. 67 Based upon this evidence, the jury was justified in concluding that Padron participated in the conspiracy. 68