Opinion ID: 756510
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 14 Next, Griffin maintains that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knowingly possessed the cocaine found in his vehicle, an element required under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). See United States v. Covarrubias, 65 F.3d 1362, 1369 (7th Cir.1995). The police officers were surveilling Boutique Chicago as they witnessed Griffin hand the key to his Yukon to the Hispanic male, who drove to a different area of Chicago, loaded a large, tan box in the cargo space of the vehicle, and returned to Boutique Chicago. The Hispanic male was driving in a suspicious and erratic manner during which time he circled around the block and kept looking in his rear view mirror as the police followed. For the remainder of that day, the police officers observed that no one else had access to Griffin's Yukon. After Griffin left Boutique Chicago, he drove on the expressway briefly, exited, and pulled over to the curb in a business area, no-parking zone without direction from the following police officers. At that time, no one else was in the Yukon with Griffin. Shortly thereafter, Detective Bobko came up to the vehicle and proceeded to question Griffin, who was nervous and had difficulty speaking. During questioning, Griffin made contradictory statements about who had had access to his Yukon that day. He explained that during the day someone used his vehicle, but then added that he could not remember who it was that used his vehicle and who told him that another person had operated the vehicle. In addition, Griffin seemed very nervous during the Terry stop and questioning and in fact became so excited that he departed from the scene after telling the officers he wanted to stay without retrieving his driver's license and vehicle registration. After obtaining a search warrant, the government discovered not only $1,250,000 worth of cocaine, but also a digital gram scale, and a gun in Griffin's briefcase. 15 In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in original). [T]his court is not the trier of fact and we are required to uphold the jury's verdict where any rational trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty of the crime.... Only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the trier of fact could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may an appellate court overturn the verdict. United States v. Grier, 866 F.2d 908, 923 (7th Cir.1989) (internal quotations and citations omitted). We  'will not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses.' Similarly, we have stated: 'It is wellsettled law that a court of appeals does not stand in judgment of the credibility of witnesses. Rather the question is left to the sound discretion of the trier of fact.'  Id. at 923-24 (quoting United States v. Perry, 747 F.2d 1165, 1170 (7th Cir.1984)). 16 When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence challenge we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, defer to the credibility determination of the jury, and overturn a verdict only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. [United States v. Hickok, 77 F.3d 992, 1002 (7th Cir.) (citations and internal quotations omitted), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1200, 116 S.Ct. 1701, 134 L.Ed.2d 800 (1996) ]. In determining if there was sufficient evidence we resolve all conflicts in the evidence in favor of the prevailing party. 17 United States v. Moore, 115 F.3d 1348, 1363 (7th Cir.1997). 18 Griffin argues that any evidence that he had to his knowledge that cocaine was in his vehicle was strictly circumstantial. However, the trier of fact is entitled to infer knowledge from circumstantial evidence. United States v. Uriostegui-Estrada, 86 F.3d 87, 89 (7th Cir.1996).  'There is nothing novel about establishing a crime through the use of circumstantial evidence, for ... circumstantial evidence is not less probative than direct evidence, and, in some cases is even more reliable.'  United States v. Ranum, 96 F.3d 1020, 1026 (7th Cir.1996) (quoting United States v. Hatchett, 31 F.3d 1411, 1421 (7th Cir.1994)), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 773, 136 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). [C]ommon sense should be used to evaluate what reasonably may be inferred from circumstantial evidence. Grier, 866 F.2d at 923 (internal quotations and citations omitted). 19 As previously stated, the police officers observed Griffin hand the key to his Yukon to the Hispanic male. As the police followed the Hispanic male, he drove to a different neighborhood in Chicago, loaded a large, tan box in the cargo space of the vehicle, and returned with it to Griffin's place of work, all the time driving in an erratic and suspicious manner. Detective Bobko testified that he watched the Yukon for the remainder of that day, observing that no one else had access to Griffin's vehicle. When Griffin pulled over after exiting the expressway without direction from the police officers, he was the only person in the Yukon. When Detective Bobko questioned Griffin he was nervous, had difficulty speaking, and was breathing rapidly. During Detective Bobko's interrogation, Griffin explained that during the day someone had used his Yukon, yet he conveniently could not remember who had used his vehicle nor who the person was who had told him that someone else had driven the vehicle. After obtaining a search warrant, the officers entered his car and uncovered $1,250,000 worth of cocaine, a digital gram scale, and a gun in Griffin's briefcase. From the totality of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and Griffin's extreme anxiety, the district court, as trier of fact, was entitled to infer that Griffin knew of the cocaine in his vehicle's cargo space. See Stribling, 94 F.3d at 324-25 (jury properly inferred from the defendant's nervousness, lies to police, and contradictory actions that defendant knew of the cocaine's presence); see also Uriostegui-Estrada, 86 F.3d at 89 (fact finder could reasonably believe that drug smuggler would not entrust cargo worth more than $1 million to a stranger unaware of its value). 20 Griffin argues that the district court made a statement at the suppression hearing which indicates that its findings were irrational. After the parties presented evidence at the suppression hearing, the district court stated: [I]f I don't grant this motion, we will see what happens if that is tried at trial in terms of your client's knowledge because I don't know for sure whether or not he knew there were drugs there. (Suppression Hearing Tr. at 102). We do not agree that this isolated remark in a 111-page transcript is sufficient to undermine the district court's subsequent finding of guilt after the completed trial. During the bench trial and from reviewing the record, we are convinced that the trial court weighed the evidence, made credibility determinations, and found that Griffin was guilty of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute beyond a reasonable doubt. The district court carefully and thoughtfully examined the evidence produced at trial, finding that Griffin was not an unwitting mule, but certainly must have been aware of the narcotics in his vehicle. The court also considered the evidence of Griffin's reactions to Detective Bobko's inquiry about drugs and that a loaded gun and scale were found after the police searched Griffin's vehicle, which are the usual tools of a drug dealer. Thus, the court's isolated remark during the suppression hearing concerning Griffin's knowledge of the cocaine falls short of being a basis for rejecting the district court's finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt after the bench trial. See United States v. Agilar, 779 F.2d 123, 125 (2nd Cir.1985) (totality of evidence dispelled any reasonable doubt despite district court's remark about identification testimony when discussing evidence at trial).