Opinion ID: 788500
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trial Testimony of and Concerning Robinson's Co-Conspirators

Text: 25 Much of the remaining evidence introduced by the government at trial concerned Defendant Robinson's relationships and transactions with his alleged co-conspirators. One of these alleged co-conspirators, co-defendant Daniel McGill, was called as a government witness, as was one of Robinson's acquaintances, Dena Carmichael, who testified that she introduced Robinson to co-defendant Ronald Brady and was otherwise familiar with Robinson's activities. We summarize this evidence here, with more detail to follow as necessary to our analysis of the issues presented on appeal.
26 Daniel McGill first met John Robinson, Defendant's brother, in Los Angeles sometime in 1994 or 1995, and he met Defendant in California in 1995. In approximately April of 2000, McGill moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, upon John Robinson's suggestion that he work with Defendant picking up packages and doing odd jobs for Defendant's uncle. 27 McGill could not recall at trial when he first opened a mailbox at Mailboxes, Etc., but he testified that he was involved in picking up packages as early as April or May of 2000. Indeed, even prior to his arrival in Tennessee, McGill testified that he was aware of Defendant's involvement in picking up packages, and that some of these packages may have contained marijuana. As part of this scheme, he and Defendant acquired false identification, with McGill making passport photos and Defendant sending them off for preparation. McGill then used this identification to open mailboxes at three different Mailboxes, Etc. locations. 28 McGill testified that, after obtaining these mailboxes, he and Defendant discussed a source of marijuana. According to McGill, Defendant told him he could make money by simply picking up packages of marijuana when they arrived, provided that a source could be arranged. McGill suggested co-defendant William Barnes, who he knew from North Carolina during the late 1980's. McGill contacted Barnes, who arranged for delivery to the mailboxes he and Defendant had rented. For picking up the arriving packages, which averaged fifteen pounds each, McGill was paid approximately $600 per week by Robinson and Barnes. 14 McGill also testified that, at Barnes's direction, he wired approximately $5000-$7000 a week to California to pay the source. To pick up the packages, McGill used rental cars provided by Robinson. 29 McGill testified on cross examination that, as of Defendant's arrest following the controlled delivery on May 19, 2000, his business relationship with Defendant ceased, though he continued to work with Barnes. When asked whether he participated in any transactions with Robinson's girlfriend, Dena Carmichael, McGill testified that his dealings were solely with Robinson, and that, as far as if he was in agreement with anyone else, I chose not to be — not to know about it. (J.A. at 702.)
30 Dena Carmichael met Defendant Robinson in the summer of 1999, and the two subsequently began to date. Carmichael testified that she would often stay at Robinson's home while he was traveling, and each time Robinson would leave her from $300 to $500 to pay bills and other living expenses. 31 After approximately six months, in late 1999 or early 2000, Carmichael testified that she became aware that Robinson was involved in illegal activities. 15 Carmichael discovered a number of false identification documents bearing names such as Samuel Thompson and Derrick Palmer. Carmichael testified that she also secured false identification for herself, under the name Kelly Banks. At Robinson's request, she used this false identification to open mailboxes, including a Pak Mail mailbox in Morristown that she opened on May 17, 2000. The mail service application for this box authorized receipt of packages by Derrick Palmer. In addition, Robinson asked at some point whether Carmichael knew of anyone who might be interested in purchasing marijuana, and she introduced him to co-defendant Ronald Bunky Brady. 32 Carmichael testified that, approximately four months prior to Robinson's arrest on May 19, 2000, she accompanied him to pick up Fed Ex envelopes containing identification and cash. The Fed Ex envelopes originated in California, and were sent to a Mailboxes, Etc. facility in Knoxville. On one occasion, in approximately January of 2000, Carmichael accompanied Defendant when he picked up a package approximately two feet tall by two feet wide — of similar size to those in evidence. When the package was opened at Robinson's home, Carmichael observed one brick of pressed marijuana, wrapped and covered in Vick's VapoRub to mask the smell, and Robinson told her that the brick was a pound of compressed marijuana. 33 Carmichael testified that she observed Robinson counting large amounts of cash in his home, and that she occasionally assisted in this task. 16 Robinson gave Carmichael large sums of money to buy home furnishings and to pay bills, and bought her shoes and clothing. In addition, Carmichael occasionally accompanied Robinson to banks to withdraw funds. At one bank, Carmichael opened an account under a false name, and withdrew $10,000 from a separate account. At another bank, Carmichael withdrew funds totaling $5,000 from an account under a false name. The money from both accounts was turned over to Robinson. 34 Carmichael testified that she was aware of a Fed Ex account Robinson held in 1999 under the name World Records. Robinson, according to Carmichael, was a writer and singer, and was using this account to conduct business with locations in California. Carmichael also had a Fed Ex account under the name LeFeme Boutique, which was the name of the hair salon where she worked when she originally moved back to Tennessee. Carmichael testified that co-defendant Kawyn Logan and others used her account, and Federal Express billing records disclosed numerous packages sent by various senders, including Derrick Palmer and Logan. 17 These packages were sent to various Tennessee and California addresses, with the most frequent recipient being New Breed Entertainment. 18 Of the packages sent via this Fed Ex account, Carmichael admitted to personally sending a package on May 17, 2000 to Tiana Salgado, Robinson's girlfriend in Los Angeles. The package contained baby clothes, as well as a picture of Carmichael to be used to obtain false identification so that she could open additional mailboxes to receive marijuana shipments. 35 Carmichael further testified that, at Robinson's request, she purchased a handgun from a gun shop in Morristown. Robinson purportedly used Carmichael to purchase the gun, as he could not do so himself due to his criminal record. In addition to the handgun, Carmichael testified that Robinson owned a rifle.
36 Co-defendant Ronald Bunky Brady was introduced to Defendant Robinson in approximately May of 2000 by Dena Carmichael, in response to Robinson's query whether Carmichael knew of anyone who might be interested in buying marijuana from him. Carmichael testified that, following an initial meeting between Robinson and Brady, she spoke with both men on a daily basis, and often facilitated contacts between them. In exchange for making this introduction, Carmichael was given a share of the proceeds from Robinson's first few deals with Brady. According to Carmichael, Brady told her that Robinson was a good guy to deal with, meaning dealing with drugs. (J.A. at 780.)
37 According to Dena Carmichael, co-defendant Kawyn Logan was an old friend and schoolmate of Defendant Robinson. Carmichael was introduced to Logan at Robinson's home in late 1999. Carmichael testified that she did not personally observe Logan engaged in the distribution of drugs, but she stated that Logan would not talk in her presence, and that if he had anything of import to say, he would pull Robinson aside. Whenever Carmichael was present, Logan would tell Robinson that she wasn't to be trusted. 38 Carmichael testified that she observed Logan and Robinson counting money, in her estimate between $20,000 and $35,000, in a back room of Robinson's home. In addition, Carmichael testified that she overheard Robinson and Logan speaking about drugs over the phone, beginning in early 2000. The phone conversations, according to Carmichael, made reference to green and trees (meaning marijuana) and white (meaning cocaine). 39 Logan rented a post office box from a location on Sanderson in Knoxville. In July of 1999, a package destined for this box was intercepted at Los Angeles International Airport and found to contain approximately one kilogram of cocaine. Upon further investigation, it was determined that a series of packages were received at this post office box and signed for by Logan between April and July of 1999. Thus, well before Robinson's May 19, 2000 arrest, Postal Inspector Romano had accumulated a file of package labels addressed to Logan at this post office box in Knoxville. All of these labels were dated between April and July 29, 1999, addressed to or signed for by Logan, and delivered to Knoxville. 19 The date of the earliest such package, April 22, 1999, corresponds to the date alleged in the indictment as the beginning of the Count One conspiracy.
40 The record contains very little evidence pertaining to co-defendant William Barnes. Daniel McGill testified that he identified Barnes to Defendant Robinson as someone who might have a source for marijuana, and that Barnes subsequently arranged for delivery to the mailboxes rented by McGill and Robinson. As noted earlier, McGill testified that he was paid by Robinson and Barnes to pick up packages, that he wired money to California weekly at Barnes's direction, and that, as of Robinson's arrest following the controlled delivery on May 19, 2000, his drug dealing relationship with Robinson ceased but he continued to work with Barnes. 41 Agent Ribolla provided some additional information as to Barnes's alleged involvement in the conspiracy. Upon investigation of the June 15, 2000 incident, it was determined that Barnes was the driver of the Toyota Camry involved in the high-speed chase that day.