Opinion ID: 677313
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Marvin Bland

Text: 51 Although Bland was a relative latecomer to the conspiracy in comparison to its other members, the evidence that he joined it was no less compelling. Bland developed a collaborative association first with Zahm, and then with Nancy. There was testimony that Bland assisted Zahm in finding a laboratory site, in obtaining chemicals, and in collecting drug debts. The prosecution offered into evidence the methamphetamine recipe that Zahm gave Bland and a bottle of acid used to make methamphetamine. There was testimony that Bland shot at Worker's mailbox as a warning for Zahm to resume his role as Nancy's cook. After Zahm's arrest, Bland told Matthews that he had some pickle juice from Zahm, and that if Matthews arranged for the methamphetamine to be extracted Bland would split it with her. 52 Bland was also a moving force behind the attempted cook at Lawrence's farm. Bland found the site, helped set up the equipment, and made most of the arrangements with Lawrence, after consulting Nancy Nietupski and Zahm. When Zahm told Thomas Nietupski that he expected to produce seven pounds from the cook, Thomas offered to give both Zahm and Bland one pound each, to which Bland agreed. Once the cook was called off, Bland moved the bulk of the equipment to Matthews' house and stored the remainder at his own home. The record was sufficient to establish Bland's participation in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 53 In sum, we conclude that the government presented substantial evidence with which a jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants were guilty of conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in central Illinois. The sole basis for the defendants' sufficiency challenge to their convictions for using a firearm in the course of a drug trafficking offense was that they did not commit the drug trafficking offenses. Because we have found that there was sufficient evidence to support the convictions for the drug trafficking offenses, we also find that there was sufficient evidence to support the convictions for the firearm offenses. United States v. Burrell, 963 F.2d 976, 990 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 357, 121 L.Ed.2d 270 (1992).