Opinion ID: 677069
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Thomas Wesson.

Text: 39 Wesson challenges the sufficiency of the evidence compiled to convict him for aiding and abetting several of the crimes listed in the indictment. He claims that there was no evidence introduced at trial that he was anywhere in the vicinity of the crimes as they were committed, and therefore, that he could not have aided and abetted their commission. 40 We will affirm a conviction for aiding and abetting if substantial evidence shows that the appellant had knowledge of the illegal activity that is being aided and abetted, a desire to help the activity succeed, and some act of helping. United States v. Zafiro, 945 F.2d 881, 887 (7th Cir.1991). See also United States v. Allen, 10 F.3d 405, 415 (7th Cir.1993). The evidence adduced at trial showed Wesson, as ringleader, integrally involved in all aspects of the drug operation. Wesson argues only that he did not personally commit the crimes which he was found to have aided and abetted. But the law does not limit this type of liability only to those who personally committed the crimes. The statute is clear that one may be accountable for aiding and abetting if the evidence shows that he aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced or procured the crime's commission. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2(a). And there is enough evidence that Wesson, as ringleader, knew the crimes were taking place, and used his considerable organizational skills to facilitate their completion. 41 Nearly every witness the government called testified about Wesson's primacy in the drug ring. He organized the network through which the heroin flowed to the customers. He trained the telephone operators; he was everyone's boss and employer. Even the statements by Wesson's mother previously discussed show that she knew her son's place at the head of the organization. True, sometimes Wesson did not oversee every detail of the operation. Like any successful manager, he knew how to delegate authority. But he was no less responsible for aiding and abetting any particular drug deal just because he did not know its details. He knew about the broader picture: that drugs were being dealt. The ring used his leadership to further its ends. He trained and supervised his subordinates. This is the essence of aiding and abetting: knowledge of the illegal activity, a desire to help, and some act of helping. There was sufficient evidence that Wesson met all of these requirements.