Opinion ID: 2997248
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: The district court’s denial of a judgment of acquittal is reviewed de novo. See United States v. Sax, 39 F.3d 1380, 1385 (7th Cir. 1994). The motion should be granted if “the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction.” Id. (quoting 2 Charles A. Wright, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure § 467, at 655 (1982)). A conviction is reversed only if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, no rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See id.; United States v. Chavin, 316 F.3d 666, 672 (7th Cir. 2002). “A defendant has a heavy burden in challenging a conviction based on the sufficiency of the evidence.” United States v. Hoover, 175 F.3d 564, 570 (7th Cir. 1999). 16 No. 03-1516