Opinion ID: 76590
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Felon-in-Possession.

Text: 15 Cantillo, Fernandez-Cuesta, and Rivero also challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for their § 922(g)(1) convictions of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. Although Cantillo, Fernandez-Cuesta, and Rivero were found guilty of firearms violations under § 924(c), it does not necessarily follow that they are guilty of being felons-in-possession under § 922(g)(1). Sections 924(c) and 922(g)(1) are separate statutes with separate and distinct elements, and evidence sufficient to support a conviction under one statute may not be sufficient for conviction under the other. 16 More important, under § 924(c), a defendant may be found guilty based upon the acts of a co-conspirator. While co-conspirator liability may be available under § 922(g)(1), we need not decide that question today because at oral argument the government expressly disavowed reliance upon that theory of liability. Therefore, we consider only whether the evidence was sufficient to convict defendants of being felons-in-possession based upon their own acts, without regard to co-conspirator liability. 17 At trial, the district court properly charged the jury that a defendant could be found guilty of violating § 922(g)(1) if the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm and had been previously convicted of a felony. On possession specifically, the district court used these words: 18 A person who knowingly has direct physical control of something is then in actual possession of it. A person who is not in actual possession, but who has both the power and the intention to later take control over something either alone or together with someone else, is in constructive possession of it. 19 The jury instructions were not challenged on appeal and are consistent with the law of this Circuit. 20 A defendant has constructive possession if he exercises ownership, dominion, or control over the firearm. Crawford, 906 F.2d at 1535. A defendant also has constructive possession if he has the power and intention to exercise dominion or control. United States v. Smith, 591 F.2d 1105, 1107 (5th Cir.1979). The defendant may exercise that dominion and control either directly or through others. See, e.g., United States v. Thomas, 321 F.3d 627, 636 (7th Cir.2003); United States v. Van Horn, 277 F.3d 48, 55 (1st Cir.2002); United States v. Hardin, 248 F.3d 489, 498 (6th Cir.2001). 21 We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the convictions of Cantillo and Fernandez-Cuesta. But we conclude, based on the evidence presented, that an objectively reasonable jury could not have made the same finding about Rivero. 22 The evidence showed that Cantillo was the leader of the conspiracy. Briefly stated, he solicited the opportunity to steal narcotics; he organized the attempted robbery; and he recruited his co-defendants. During one conversation about the robbery, Cantillo stressed his leadership by telling Agent Canino: I'm ready; my warriors, my soldiers are ready. 23 Because Cantillo led the conspiracy, a rational jury could have inferred that he, directly or through others, controlled — or at least had the power and intention to control — the firearms even though he did not arrive in the Mitsubishi, the car in which the guns were found. See United States v. Hernandez, 995 F.2d 307, 313 (1st Cir.1993) (upholding defendant's § 922(g)(1) conviction because jury could reasonably infer that defendant, as the conspiracy leader, controlled his co-conspirators and their firearms); United States v. Aiello, 864 F.2d 257, 263 (2d Cir.1988) (stating that a jury could reasonable infer defendant's constructive possession of drugs in part because defendant instituted and controlled the drug activity). 24 For Fernandez-Cuesta, the evidence showed that, next to Cantillo, Fernandez-Cuesta was the key player in organizing the conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Cantillo introduced Fernandez-Cuesta as his partner at the their initial meeting with Agent Canino. Several times after that meeting, Fernandez-Cuesta dealt alone with Agent Canino about the details of the robbery. During one telephone conversation, Agent Canino told Fernandez-Cuesta that the cocaine would be in soon; and Fernandez-Cuesta replied, Just give me a ring at the moment.... I'll get going, I'll go get the personnel that we will all be there (sic). The evidence also showed Fernandez-Cuesta was a passenger in the Mitsubishi and had knowledge of the firearms in the Mitsubishi. Fernandez-Cuesta's knowledge of the firearms coupled with his leadership role and his proximity to the firearms provide sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that Fernandez-Cuesta had the power and intention to exercise control over the firearms. Therefore, we conclude that sufficient evidence supported Cantillo's and Fernandez-Cuesta's § 922(g)(1) convictions. 25 Unlike Cantillo and Fernandez-Cuesta, Rivero was not a principal player in the conspiracy. He never met with or spoke to Agent Canino to help plan the robbery. In the record, Rivero comes into the picture only once before the day of the robbery. And, unlike Fernandez-Cuesta, he did not arrive at the warehouse in the Mitsubishi; he arrived in a car containing no guns. The evidence did show that Rivero had knowledge of the firearms, but knowledge alone is insufficient to prove constructive possession. Because the record shows only that Rivero knew about the firearms, we conclude that the evidence is insufficient to prove Rivero had actual or constructive possession of the firearms. For that reason, we vacate his § 922(g)(1) conviction. 26