Opinion ID: 158879
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Strader, and Ronnie McSwain

Text: 30 First, Mr. McSwain apparently - and correctly - does not contest that the evidence was sufficient to show the necessary managerial relationship as to Walter Roberts, Roger Strader, and Ronnie McSwain. With respect to Mr. Roberts and Mr. Strader, both testified that Mr. McSwain taught them to make PCP before he was incarcerated, and that they transported piperidine for him at that time. See Rec. vol. V, at 185-88; 228-46. They testified they continued to transport piperidine intrastate and interstate and collected payments for him after his incarceration at the direction of his wife, Ms. Williams. See id. at 99, 112, 188, 246. Ms. Williams testified she dealt with both at the direction of Mr. McSwain. See id. at 96-97. 31 With respect to Ronnie McSwain, the testimony of Mr. Roberts, Mr. Strader, and Ms. Williams showed that he had also transported multiple gallons and barrels of piperidine intra- and interstate, see Rec. vol. V, at 84, 89, and had collected payments for the shipments. See Rec. vol. V, at 98, 252. Mr. Strader and Mr. Estes testified they had dropped a barrel of piperidine at Ronnie McSwain's house. See id. at 215, 252, 255. Ms. Williams testified she kept the drug transaction ledger and cash box at Ronnie's house, and that Ronnie had access to both, explaining specific ledger entries showing Ronnie had taken withdrawals from the cash box to pay for expenses related to the piperidine distribution. See id. at 64, 83-84. This evidence is sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to find beyond a reasonable doubt that he managed Mr. Roberts, Mr. Strader, and Mr. Ronnie McSwain. See, e.g., McDermott, 64 F.3d at 1457 (evidence of drug storage and transport and payment collection sufficient to support CCE conviction). 32 That makes three CCE supervisees. In order to sustain the conviction, however, the evidence must support the jury's CCE determination with respect to at least two more persons. For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient with respect to both Ms. Williams and Ms. Linda Sue McSwain.