Opinion ID: 626993
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Cruz, Rodriguez and Moore renew their sufficiency of the evidence challenges previously made in post-trial motions. We exercise plenary review over a district court's denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal based on the sufficiency of the evidence. United States v. Starnes, 583 F.3d 196, 206 (3d Cir.2009). The verdict must be sustained if any rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based on the available evidence. United States v. Silveus, 542 F.3d 993, 1002 (3d Cir. 2008). We review for plain error where the defendant failed to make a timely motion for judgment of acquittal. United States v. Brodie, 403 F.3d 123, 133 (3d Cir.2005). Making all reasonable inferences in favor of the government as the verdict winner, Starnes, 583 F.3d at 206, we find these challenges meritless.
Cruz submits that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was one of the perpetrators of the charged crimes. Cruz moved for judgment of acquittal at the close of trial under Rule 29. The District Court correctly denied the motion as to Cruz's involvement in all but the Caines carjacking because, based on physical evidence, witness testimony, and post-offense conduct, a reasonable jury could have found him to be a participant in the robbery, shooting and carjackings beyond a reasonable doubt. Silveus, 542 F.3d at 1002. First, Cruz was tied to the crimes through fibers found in the Chevy Cavalier which matched a dark blue Nike jacket recovered from his room. The government's expert testified that it was very unlikely that fibers consistent with a garment would not originate from that garment, particularly given the over 80 billion tons of fibers produced each year. Additionally, the jury could reasonably infer that the jacket belonged to Cruz because, when told to dress, he put on pants from the room where the jacket was found. Second, witnesses placed Cruz in the company of the other conspirators shortly before the attempted robbery. Angel Ayala testified that at around 7 p.m., Cruz and Rodriguez had talked with him about holding a gun and that they were wearing black and blue sweaters with blue hoods. Tyiasha Moore likewise testified that Rodriguez, Cruz and Berrios were gathered around a gun, all wearing dark clothing, one floor away from Moore, at around 10:15 p.m. that night. And third, Armando Cruz, a government witness, confronted Cruz several times about the Wendy's shooting. Cruz never denied his involvement in the crime until the third conversation, at which point Armando believed he had grown suspicious about Armando's assistance in the investigation. Making all reasonable inferences in favor of the government as the verdict winner, Starnes, 583 F.3d at 206, Cruz cannot show that no reasonable jury could have convicted him on the totality of the evidence.
Rodriguez contends that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to convict him of the charges. However, the tape of Berrios and Moore identifying Rodriguez as the getaway driver for the Wendy's robbery and as an accomplice in the carjackings was properly admitted, and he rightly concedes that if the recording was admissible against him, the evidence was sufficient for a conviction. Rodriguez also argues that a jury could not find him guilty of attempting to carjack Peterson's car because none of the defendants harmed her in any way after she threw her keys into her yard. However, the specific intent element of carjacking is assessed at the time the defendant demanded or took control over the car. See Holloway v. United States, 526 U.S. 1, 8, 119 S.Ct. 966, 143 L.Ed.2d 1 (1999). Therefore, the fact that Peterson was not harmed does not negate the jury's assessment of Rodriguez's intent at the time the carjackers demanded the keys. Indeed, Peterson testified that they ran away when neighborhood dogs began to bark, which suggests that the defendants may very well have changed their minds during the carjacking. Drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the verdict, Rodriguez cannot prevail merely because the victim escaped unharmed.
Moore argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he was an accomplice in the Wendy's robbery and carjackings, but concedes that if the recording of his conversation with Berrios was properly admitted, his sufficiency of the evidence argument must fail. We reject his challenge accordingly.