Opinion ID: 608859
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appellant Scales

Text: 13 Benjamin Scales first met Manko in the spring or summer of 1988 when a co-conspirator, Hayward Mookie Hicks, introduced the two men. Scales' first meeting with Manko was inaugurated by Scales' four ounce purchase of cocaine from Manko. Sometime after this transaction, Manko returned to his base of operation in Miami, Florida. Soon the conspiracy began to unfold when Scales summoned Manko back to North Carolina. In August of 1988, Scales called Manko in Miami inquiring when he would return to town and Manko replied he was ready to do so because he wanted to do some business. Eventually, Scales provided Manko an escort, Jackie Suffern, who flew to Miami to deliver to Manko $5,000 of Mookie Hicks' money, and drive Manko to Raleigh, N.C. Manko and Suffern returned to Raleigh, N.C. with four kilograms of cocaine which were sold out of a hotel room which Scales rented. Scales sold nine ounces of the four kilograms brought by Manko from Miami. During the course of the conspiracy, Manko and Suffern traveled together on several occasions to purchase or deliver cocaine. 14 There was testimony concerning Scales' multiple purchases and sales of cocaine in quantities ranging from two to twelve ounces. There was also testimony that Manko kept cocaine at Scales' house during the course of the conspiracy.