Opinion ID: 148935
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Conspiracy to Murder Deputy Anders.

Text: -6- To prove Mr. Cook guilty of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, the government had to prove that (1) the Aryan Brotherhood was an “enterprise” under 18 U.S.C. § 1959(b)(2); (2) that Mr. Cook was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood; (3) that the Aryan Brotherhood engaged in “racketeering activity” under 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1); (4) that Mr. Cook conspired to murder Deputy Anders, and (5) that his general purpose in doing so was to maintain or increase his position in the Aryan Brotherhood. 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a); see United States v. Smith, 413 F.3d 1253, 1277 (10th Cir. 2005). Mr. Cook challenges the government’s evidence on the fourth element, that he conspired to murder Deputy Anders. Aplt. Br. at 24-31. Mr. Cook argues that he did not conspire with anyone other than a government agent, and that the government failed to prove interdependence among the coconspirators. Id. A conspiracy does not exist when a defendant colludes only with government agents or informers. United States v. Hardwell, 80 F.3d 1471, 1482 (10th Cir. 1996). Mr. Cook claims that he could not have conspired with Mr. Arrington because Mr. Arrington was merely present at a meeting where the murder was discussed. Aplt. Br. at 26, 30-31. He also asserts that he could not have conspired with Mr. Puckett because their phone calls reflected no agreement and because Mr. Puckett withdrew from the conspiracy when he was arrested. Aplt. Br. at 25-26, 30-31. A jury nevertheless could reasonably conclude that Mr. Cook conspired with Mr. Arrington and Mr. Puckett, neither of whom were government agents. -7- Mr. Puckett initiated the plan before his arrest and continued facilitating it from jail. The jury could conclude that Mr. Puckett never withdrew from the conspiracy. To withdraw from a conspiracy, a conspirator must make an affirmative act disavowing or defeating the purpose of the conspiracy. United States v. Gonzalez, 596 F.3d 1228, 1234 (10th Cir. 2010). As well, Mr. Arrington joined the conspiracy while Mr. Cook was a member. Mr. Arrington nodded his approval of the plan at the August meeting. He later offered to provide a safe house and to get methamphetamine to finance the murder. Mr. Cook participated in the conspiracy while Mr. Puckett and Mr. Arrington were fellow conspirators. Mr. Cook coordinated communications, planned meetings, took direction from generals, prescribed the method of the murder, offered to commit the murder, and advised the others how to avoid being caught. He offered to provide a safe house for the murderer and brokered a drug deal to finance the murder. In short, ample evidence showed that Mr. Cook conspired with Mr. Puckett and Mr. Arrington to murder Deputy Anders.