Opinion ID: 561861
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 17 Burks contends that the evidence is insufficient to prove the attempted delivery of a controlled substance when there is no evidence that he possessed a controlled substance on the occasion in question. 18 The defendant's conviction will be upheld if, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the Government, there is substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict. See Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); United States v. Marin-Cifuentes, 866 F.2d 988, 992 (8th Cir.1989). The Government must be given the benefit of all reasonable inferences that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence. United States v. Marin-Cifuentes, 866 F.2d at 992 (8th Cir.1989). If the evidence rationally supports two conflicting hypotheses, the reviewing court will not disturb the conviction. United States v. Holm, 836 F.2d 1119, 1122 (8th Cir.1988). The standard of review of an appeal concerning sufficiency of the evidence is very strict, and the verdict of the jury should not be overturned lightly. United States v. Knife, 592 F.2d 472, 475 (8th Cir.1979). 19 The appellant had a history of distributing amphetamines to the Government's confidential informant. On the tape recorded conversation on the day in question, the appellant agreed to sell six ounces of amphetamines in return for $6,000. It was agreed that the sale was to take place the next day. The plan called for the appellant to obtain the drugs from his source and thereafter arrange for delivery. The next day the marked money was given to the appellant and, after a short time elapsed, Burks left his home and headed toward Oklahoma. Burks was then stopped by the officers who discovered the buy money in Burks' pants pocket. At the time the appellant was stopped, he was driving his pick-up truck which had a bag of trash in the back. The Government informant testified that he had been acquainted with the appellant for about five years, they were friends and the informant had helped the appellant deal drugs almost every day for about two years. Furthermore, he testified that Burks' method of transporting amphetamine was to bring it from Oklahoma to Arkansas concealed in some trash in the back of his truck. 20 The appellant denies, however, that he was involved with the informant as it related to trafficking or distributing narcotics. Furthermore, he argues that this informant owed the appellant large sums of money and this was simply a way to try and recoup part of the money loaned. 21 To constitute an attempted crime, an individual must be found to (1) have an intent to engage in criminal conduct, and (2) engage in conduct constituting a substantial step toward the commission of the substantive offense which strongly corroborates the actor's criminal intent. United States v. Joyce, 693 F.2d 838, 841 (8th Cir.1982). Such intent may be shown by circumstantial evidence. United States v. Rodriguez, 812 F.2d 414, 416 (8th Cir.1987). 22 Having examined the trial transcript and the testimony adduced at trial, we believe that there was sufficient evidence to enable a jury of reasonable men and women to return a verdict of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court, therefore, will not disturb the verdict and will affirm the appellant's conviction. 23