Opinion ID: 787155
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Drug Conspiracy Offense.

Text: 4 The government introduced overwhelming evidence that Payne's nephew, Leroy Eason, was the leader of a drug conspiracy that obtained large quantities of cocaine in Dallas and distributed it in St. Louis between July 1998 and September 2001. Payne does not dispute the existence of the conspiracy, only whether the government proved that he knew of ... and ... intentionally joined the conspiracy. United States v. Espino, 317 F.3d 788, 792 (8th Cir.2003). Once a conspiracy has been established, only slight evidence is needed to link a defendant to the conspiracy. United States v. Pena, 67 F.3d 153, 155 (8th Cir.1995). 5 The government presented the following evidence that Payne was an active participant in his nephew's drug trafficking conspiracy: 6 — Conspirator Maurice Chatman testified that he accompanied Eason on a number of trips to Texas to obtain cocaine. Before one trip, Chatman, Eason, and Payne met and arranged that Payne would drive his car to Dallas on the pretense of seeking treatment for foot problems at a Veterans Administration clinic. Eason had installed a hidden compartment in Payne's car and wanted to use the car to transport five kilograms of cocaine to St. Louis. Chatman then rode with Eason in a rented car to Eason's condominium near Dallas, where Payne's car was waiting. Chatman helped Eason package seven kilograms of cocaine to avoid detection by drug dogs, watched Eason load five kilograms into the hidden compartment in Payne's Grand Prix, and drove Payne's car back to St. Louis. Eason provided Chatman with a document showing Payne's admission to the V.A. clinic so that Chatman, if stopped for a traffic violation, could explain why he was driving Payne's car back to St. Louis. Payne and Eason returned to St. Louis separately. Conspirator Marcus Davis testified that Eason installed the hidden compartment in Payne's car because police seized Davis's similarly-equipped Grand Prix that Eason had used to transport cocaine from Dallas to St. Louis. 7 — Conspirator Frederick Smith testified that he obtained fifteen to twenty kilograms from Eason in the year before Smith was indicted. Eason delivered the cocaine at his grandmother's house. Smith saw Payne at the house three to five times, where Payne witnessed exchanges of money for cocaine. On one occasion, Smith testified that Payne remarked, I guess you're doing pretty good, you and [Eason], you know, you come see him pretty often so I guess things going real well. 8 — Government investigators placed pen registers and later a wiretap on Eason's cell phones. Between November 2000 and July 2001, they registered 598 phone contacts between Payne and Eason. The most incriminating conversations were played for the jury at trial. They recorded Payne advising Eason about being under surveillance and not letting one of the conspirators out of the conspiracy, discussing the trip to Virginia that led to the firearms charge and a DEA forfeiture notice, and requesting money and other financial assistance from Eason, which he invariably provided. 9 — When Payne's brother wrote from prison warning of Eason's criminal history and lack of trustworthiness, Payne replied, I understand everything you are saying. 10 We conclude that a reasonable jury could find this evidence, along with the evidence of the Virginia trip discussed in detail in connection with the firearm charge, more than sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Payne was a knowing participant in the drug conspiracy. Payne argues there was insufficient proof he intentionally joined the conspiracy. But a formal agreement is unnecessary. United States v. Sanders, 341 F.3d 809, 815 (8th Cir.2003), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 124 S.Ct. 1525, 158 L.Ed.2d 167 (2004). Payne's active involvement in the trips to Virginia and to Dallas and his frequent communication with Eason about the conspiracy reflect more than mere association with Eason and mere presence when illegal activity occurred. 11