Opinion ID: 175612
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Crack-Cocaine Conspiracy

Text: Thompson argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction for participating in the crack-cocaine conspiracy. Specifically, he argues that the only evidence relating to his participation in a crack-cocaine conspiracy was: (1) 8 Sherri Hunter’s testimony that on one occasion Thompson gave her crack-cocaine provided by Good; and (2) Good’s “generic testimony” concerning his relationship with Thompson, during which Good had difficulty describing whether his calls pertained specifically to crack-cocaine. Thompson Br. at 35-40. This evidence, he says, is insufficient to support his conviction. We discern no plain error. Thompson vigorously asserts that Hunter’s testimony at most proves that on a single occasion he did Good a favor by passing crack-cocaine to Hunter. We need not determine whether this “favor” was sufficient by itself to sustain Thompson’s conviction, for the record amply supports Thompson’s agreement with Good to sell crack-cocaine to others. Good testified as follows: Q. Mr. Good, you told us that you also were getting rid of crack cocaine. Who was involved with you in terms of you giving crack cocaine to them to get rid of? A. Who was involved? Q. Yes. A. That helped me sell the crack cocaine? Q. Yes. A. My brother Roscoe; Sherri Hunter; Percy Travillon; James Bivens. There was quite a few of them. App. 1067. He continued: Q. You told us that Roscoe Thompson was involved with you in the heroin and in the crack cocaine. 9 ... Q. In terms of crack cocaine, what kind of quantities of crack cocaine was your brother getting from you? A. He was just getting an ounce at a time. The most he would get . . . would be two ounces. Q. How often? A. [D]epends how fast he got rid of it, how his business was going. Sometimes he would – sometimes it would take him a couple weeks. Q. What was the arrangement in terms of payment? A. When he get done selling it, he would pay me. Q. How much would you charge Roscoe Thompson for one ounce of crack cocaine? A. $900. ... Q. Did Roscoe Thompson ever tell you who he sold crack cocaine to? A. Only one particular person one time, I happened to drive – I was coming over there one day and I saw one particular person, who was Sammy Tucker, this guy from the West End, a guy I knew, but he was selling to people in the neighborhood . . . also. Q. Did your brother ever tell you where he went to sell the crack cocaine? A. He was hitting the bar sometimes or he would sell it wherever he was at. Sometimes he would sit – he was at his girlfriend’s house, he used to sit down at Manchester and sell it there too. App. 1080-83. Aside from Good’s testimony, Hunter testified about an occasion other than New Year’s Eve, 2002, when she obtained crack-cocaine that she believed had come from 10 Thompson. App. 1924 Thompson’s claim that the evidence supported only a “single instance” of his crackcocaine distribution is a severe distortion of the trial record. Good’s testimony demonstrates that on a regular basis, he “fronted” crack-cocaine to Thompson, and that Thompson would repay him upon selling the supply. The evidence adduced at trial easily supports a rational guilty verdict. See United States v. Iglesias, 535 F.3d 150, 156 (3d Cir. 2008) (finding that defendant’s purchase of drugs “once or twice” on credit to be sufficient evidence of a conspiracy). The District Court did not commit plain error by failing to disturb the conviction on the basis of insufficient evidence.