Opinion ID: 587744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Aiding and Abetting Conviction--Defendant Porter

Text: 25 Defendant Porter contends the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction under Count II for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute or aiding and abetting the commission of that offense. Conceding the evidence may show he aided and abetted in an attempt to distribute cocaine, Mr. Porter, relying on United States v. Hill, 835 F.2d 759 (10th Cir.1987), and United States v. Jackson, 526 F.2d 1236 (5th Cir.1976), urges that same evidence does not establish actual or constructive possession sufficient to support a conviction under either § 841 or § 2. 26 We disagree. Because acts committed in furtherance of the commission of a crime by another constitute abetting, United States v. Abreu, 962 F.2d 1425 (10th Cir.1992), when Mr. Porter joined the Houston trip to obtain the cocaine eventually possessed by Mr. Slater, Mr. Porter committed the section 2 offense. Mr. Porter's trip to Houston was a part of, and essential to, Mr. Slater's criminal act of possession. 27 Mr. Porter's reliance on United States v. Jackson, 526 F.2d at 1236, is not helpful. In that case, the Fifth Circuit reversed Jackson's conviction for aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine on the ground there was no evidence he helped [the principal] obtain the cocaine, or that he exercised any control over it. Id. at 1238. Jackson had introduced a codefendant to a second codefendant, both of whom arranged to sell cocaine to a DEA agent. The two codefendants were arrested after weighing and testing the drug. That same evidence, the Fifth Circuit noted, could have convicted Jackson of aiding and abetting the distribution of the cocaine because of his overall participation in the criminal venture. Although he was not present at the actual sale, he helped set up the transaction, was aware of all the circumstances, and intended that the illegal venture succeed. Id. 28 We are disinclined to Jackson for two reasons. First, Mr. Porter's purposeful activities in this case were closely associated with Mr. Slater's criminal venture. Second, we disagree with the basic tenet Jackson creates. 29 On the evidentiary plane, Jackson's role consisted only of his helping to set up the transaction with the intent it succeed. In contrast, here there was evidence Mr. Porter helped Mr. Slater get the cocaine in Houston and bring it to Kansas City. That trip, then, was essential to Mr. Slater's ultimate possession. Moreover, he took an active part in stimulating Mr. Slater's cocaine market. 30 On the point of law, we agree with United States v. Wesson, 889 F.2d 134 (7th Cir.1989), which bluntly rejected Jackson, by concluding [y]ou may 'abet' the crime of possession with intent to distribute by procuring the customers and maintaining the market in which the possession is profitable, even though you do nothing else to help the possessor get or retain possession. Middlemen aid and abet the offense of possession with intent to distribute. Id. at 135. Moreover, as noted by the Seventh Circuit, [t]o say that [the accused] cannot be convicted without proof of possession is to say that one cannot be an aider and abettor unless one commits the principal offense, which would obliterate the crime of aiding and abetting. Id. (citing Standefer v. United States, 447 U.S. 10, 100 S.Ct. 1999, 64 L.Ed.2d 689 (1980)). We join in that view. See also United States v. Poston, 902 F.2d 90 (D.C.Cir.1990). 31 In this case, Mr. Porter assisted Mr. Slater in his undertaking. By giving purposeful support to that endeavor, Mr. Porter violated 18 U.S.C. § 2. Given this analysis, Mr. Porter's reliance on United States v. Hill, 835 F.2d 759 (10th Cir.1987), is also misplaced.