Opinion ID: 525593
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence--Orguiza

Text: 20 Like Moreno, Orguiza argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. Orguiza's contention, however, fares better than did Moreno's. Orguiza was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it. The government's case against Orguiza consists of the following facts:1. Beltran was originally given a telephone number to contact Justo in the United States. 21 2. Orguiza's first name is Justiniano. 22 3. The government taped an incriminating conversation with an individual who identified himself as Justo but who was not identified as Orguiza. 23 4. Orguiza was seen in the company of the other defendants on the day of the arrest. 24 5. Orguiza had the keys to Moreno's apartment. 25 6. In Moreno's apartment the police found a city of Houston water receipt made out to Orguiza listing an address that corresponded to the telephone number for Justo given to Beltran. 26 Facts four and five are insufficient to prove that Orguiza conspired to possess cocaine. As we stated in United States v. Gomez, 776 F.2d 542, 549 (5th Cir.1985), defendant may not be convicted merely on a showing that he associated with individuals participating in a conspiracy, or by evidence that merely places him in a climate of activity that reeks of something foul.... Facts number one, two and three could have provided support for the government's case if the government had presented evidence that Orguiza's nickname was Justo or that the person to whom they spoke on the telephone was Orguiza. The government, however, presented no evidence on either issue. The remaining fact, number six, indicates that at some time Orguiza probably lived at the telephone number given to Beltran in Columbia. Viewing the totality of the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we conclude, however, that no reasonable trier of fact could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Orguiza conspired to possess cocaine. We, therefore, reverse Orguiza's conviction.