Opinion ID: 789633
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 40 Adams argues that the government failed to present sufficient evidence supporting his conspiracy conviction. He asserts that the evidence only showed that he was a one-time buyer of heroin from Rush-Bey. As previously discussed, in reviewing this issue, we look at the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and accept as established all reasonable inferences supporting the verdict. Cabrera, 116 F.3d at 1244. We will reverse only if we conclude that a reasonable juror must have had a reasonable doubt about the government's proof of one of the offense's essential elements. Id. at 1245. 41 As Adams points out, a mere sales transaction, standing alone, cannot support a conspiracy conviction. United States v. Bewig, 354 F.3d 731, 736 (8th Cir.2003) ( Bewig ). Our Circuit requires that there be some understanding beyond [a sales agreement] before the evidence can support a conviction for a conspiracy. Id. at 735 (internal quotation omitted). For example, a sales transaction placed in context can [support a conspiracy conviction], if a reasonable person would impute a ... conspiratorial agreement to the parties' actions and the circumstances surrounding the sales transaction. Id. at 736; see also United States v. Price, 258 F.3d 539, 545 (6th Cir.2001) (single sale can be sufficient to establish a conspiracy); United States v. Rivera-Ruiz, 244 F.3d 263, 269 (1st Cir.2001) (single sale for resale, embroidered with evidence suggesting a joint undertaking between buyer and seller, may support conspiracy conviction) (internal quotation omitted); United States v. Fregoso, 60 F.3d 1314, 1323 (8th Cir.1995) ( Fregoso ) (independent evidence tending to prove that the defendant had some knowledge of the scope of the conspiracy, ... along with the buyer-seller relationship, may be sufficient to support a conspiracy conviction) (internal quotation omitted). 42 Here, there was evidence of some understanding beyond a mere sales agreement. Bewig, 354 F.3d at 736. We have held that [a] defendant's participation in a conspiracy is proven by evidence tending to show that the defendant shared a common purpose or design with his alleged coconspirators. United States v. McCoy, 86 F.3d 139, 141 (8th Cir.1996) ( McCoy ) (internal quotation omitted). The government presented such evidence. In the June 14, 2001, telephone conversation with Parker and Rush-Bey, Adams told Rush-Bey: I can leave my other people alone, man. You know what I'm saying? Adams further stated: I can make it real ... I ain't saying what it, you know, that it ain't already good but I be a good m     f      in the clan, you know what I'm saying? A reasonable juror could interpret Adams's remarks as showing that he was aware of the scope of the conspiracy, knowingly joined the conspiracy, and shared a common purpose or design with Parker and Rush-Bey. Id. In addition, the evidence that 40 ounces of heroin was a distributable amount of heroin and that Adams was involved with Williams and Parker regarding the 40 ounces further supports a finding of Adams's knowing participation in the conspiracy to distribute drugs. See Fregoso, 60 F.3d at 1325 (purchasing [drugs] for `resale' is certainly one type of conduct upon which a conviction for conspiracy to distribute [drugs] may be obtained). 43 The fact that Adams returned the heroin because it was no good or that Rush-Bey's prices were too high does not negate the fact that Adams knowingly joined the conspiracy. See McCoy, 86 F.3d at 140 (rejecting defendant's argument that evidence was insufficient to support conspiracy conviction because the drug supplier refused to deal with buyer defendant had procured). Adams does not suggest, nor could he, that he had withdrawn from the conspiracy. A cessation of activities, alone, is not sufficient to establish withdrawal from the conspiracy. United States v. Jackson, 345 F.3d 638, 648 (8th Cir.2003). Rather, a defendant must demonstrate that he took affirmative action to withdraw from the conspiracy by making a clean breast to authorities or by communicating his withdrawal in a manner reasonably calculated to reach his coconspirators. Id. (internal quotation omitted).