Opinion ID: 64708
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of Drug Conspiracy Evidence

Text: The standard required to overturn a conviction on grounds of insufficiency is high: whether any juror could reasonably find the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. [2] The reviewing court construes all evidence and inferences in the light most favorable to the prosecution. The conspiracy charges require the government to establish that a conspiracy to unlawfully distribute methamphetamine existed, that the defendants knew of the conspiracy, and that they intentionally joined and participated in it. To establish whether there was a single conspiracy, which is an element challenged by Alejandro-Gonzalez and Franklin, courts look to (1) the existence of a common goal or purpose; (2) the nature of the scheme; and (3) overlapping participants in various dealings. [3] This does not require that the participants in the conspiracy know the other participants, nor that each participate in every conspiracy action. In this case, the single, charged conspiracy easily covers all of the appellants. [4] The evidence involves the testimony of undercover officers, a co-conspirator, and extensive surveillance and evidence discovered during the day of the bust. Sufficient evidence directly implicates each defendant in the illegal drug conspiracy. [5]