Opinion ID: 3036566
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficient Evidence to Support the Verdict

Text: Khehra contends there was a lack of evidence to prove he was familiar with the methamphetamine manufacturing process or that he knew Ben and Dan Hines were using the pseudoephedrine they purchased from him to manufacture methamphetamine. We [view] the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, resolving evidentiary conflicts in favor of the government, and accepting all reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence to support the jury's verdict. United States v. Espino, 317 F.3d 788, 791 (8th Cir. 2003). The jury's verdict may only be reversed if no reasonable jury could have found the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. In order to convict, the jury had to find that Khehra knew or had reasonable cause to believe the pseudoephedrine would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Knowledge is inferred from surrounding circumstances. United States v. Ojeda, 23 F.3d 1473, 1476 (8th Cir. 1994). Khehra sold pseudoephedrine to Dan and Ben Hines and Brugman in quantities exceeding what a reasonable person would consider legitimate consumer purchases. He also offered to sell starter fluid, a common ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. The fact that Khehra charged a premium price for pseudoephedrine is entirely consistent with making knowingly illicit sales of a controlled substance. Khehra twice asked Brugman if he was a cop before selling pseudoephedrine. Khehra purchased pseudoephedrine from more than one supplier to allay suspicion. During the search of his store, Khehra denied selling Brugman more that two bottles of pseudoephedrine at a time. See United States v. Bewig, 354 F.3d 731, 737–38 (8th Cir. 2003) (explaining that bulk sales of pseudoephedrine to routine customers suggested that defendant was acting as a front for an organized drug scheme, while the nature of the sales transactions suggested an illegal goal). The evidence was sufficient for the jury to find Khehra guilty. -3-