Opinion ID: 5376
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Our final task is to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to convict Rena, Jr. of conspiring to engage in the trafficking of marijuana.12 Because Rena, Jr. properly moved for judgment after the close of the Government's evidence and again after the close of all of the evidence, the proper standard of review is whether, when viewing the evidence and all of the inferences which could be reasonably drawn therefrom in a light most favorable to the verdict any rational trier of fact could have found each prima facie element of conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Menesses, 962 F.2d 420, 426 (5th Cir. 1992) (citing United States v. Pigrum, 922 F.2d 249, 253 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 2063 (1991)); United States v. Robles-Pantoja, 887 F.2d 1250, 1253 (5th Cir. 1989). The Court is to review all of the evidence which supports the Government-- whether direct, circumtantial, or both--as well as the inferences which a reasonable juror could draw therefrom. Menesses, 962 F.2d at 426. Although a jury may rely on circumstantial evidence in convicting a defendant, convictions may not rely solely upon suspicions of guilt. See United States v. Sacerio, 952 F.2d 860, 12 Rena, Jr. argues and the Government concedes that there is no evidence of his guilt of the conspiracy charged in count 11. Thus, our review is limited to the evidence which supported the guilty verdict in count 17. 11 864 (5th Cir. 1992). The Government was required to prove that Rena, Jr. had agreed with at least one other person to possess and distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, that he knew the conspiracy existed, and that he intentionally participated in the conspiracy. See Menesses, 962 F.2d at 426. We find that adequate evidence existed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rena, Jr. was involved in the drug conspiracy. Among other things, the Government presented evidence of Rena, Jr.'s telephone conversations with his father with respect to Joe Rena's trip up north to deliver 136 pounds of marijuana. The Renas had apparently planned to sell the drugs to Pop, who lived in Maryland. At 7:35 a.m. on March 3, 1990, Rena, Sr. called Rena, Jr. to ask if he had talked with Pop. Rena, Jr. explained that he had tried to call Pop on the prior evening, but that his efforts had proven unsuccessful. Rena, Sr. apprised Rena, Jr. that Joe's getting everything ready, and implied that they needed to talk with Pop soon. Rena, Jr. responded that he knew that and asked Rena, Sr. to try. After Rena, Sr. agreed, Rena, Jr. said, Call me, let me know what happens. Rena, Sr. called Pop in Maryland fewer than ten minutes later to tell him that Joe was driving up to Pop's area and would have with him 125 or 126 which had the good smell. The same morning, at 8:11 a.m., Rena, Sr. again called Pop to inform him of the time that Joe was scheduled to arrive. Approximately one hour later, Rena, Sr. called Rena, Jr. to tell him that he had talked with Pop 12 and that there was now no need for Rena, Jr. to call. Based upon the interception of these and other calls the DPS dispatched surveillance teams which watched Joe Rena, stopped him, gained permission to look into the trunk of his automobile, and found 126 pounds of marijuana which, indeed, had a strong smell. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the Government, a rational trier of fact could have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Rena, Jr. knew of the plan for Joe to drive to Maryland to deliver 126 pounds of marijuana, that Rena, Jr. had agreed with Rena, Sr. to talk with Pop, and that Rena, Jr. intentionally participated in the conspiracy by attempting to call Pop at least one time to inform him of the drugs which Joe was scheduled to deliver. Based upon this and other evidence13 we find that there was sufficient evidence of Rena, Jr.'s involvement in the marijuana 13 The Government also presented evidence of calls from Rena and Sons Paint and Body Shop on March 11, 1990. During those conversations Rena, Sr. informed a man who was involved in their drug ring that Rena, Jr. was calling over there so he can send him a small part. Fifteen minutes later Rena, Sr. told another employee to tell a caller bring a slice of the meat to the body shop. Two minutes later, Rena, Jr. called to tell an unknown male not to send David if it's the same s__t. Less than an hour later, Rena, Sr. informed an individual that the meat was too expensive and too humid and that it was not the quality which a third person desired. The Government presented testimony of a Sergeant Investigator who had worked in the Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Service for nine years that he believed that the meat was actually a code word for marijuana, and that in his opinion, the defendants were discussing marijuana. This evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable to the Government, shows that Rena, Jr. was involved in the attempted acquisition of marijuana, and we believe that a rational trier of fact could have so found. 13 conspiracy alleged in Count 17 of the indictment.