Opinion ID: 202309
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Insufficient Evidence of Single Conspiracy

Text: 25 Escobar argues there was insufficient evidence of a single drug conspiracy, as alleged in Count One, the sole count for which he was tried. He says the evidence shows multiple conspiracies and failed, moreover, to show a direct connection between him and some of his co-defendants. He also contends that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate the accomplishment of a common goal or plan. 26 As a preliminary matter, the government responds that Escobar's multiple-conspiracy argument is insufficiently developed for us to take note of it and hence has been waived by Escobar. See United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir.1990) ([I]ssues adverted to in a perfunctory manner, unaccompanied by some effort at developed argumentation, are deemed waived.). While the government may have some basis for this contention, we need not resolve it, as we find the multi-conspiracy argument to be without merit in any event. 27 Whether a single conspiracy exists is a question of fact for the jury. United States v. Portela, 167 F.3d 687, 696 (1st Cir.1999); United States v. LiCausi, 167 F.3d 36, 45 (1st Cir.1999). The jury's finding of a single conspiracy is subject to review for evidentiary sufficiency, United States v. David, 940 F.2d 722, 732 (1st Cir.1991), and the evidence is taken in the light most favorable to the verdict, id. at 730. 28 A conspiracy constitutes an agreement to do an unlawful act. Iannelli v. United States, 420 U.S. 770, 777, 95 S.Ct. 1284, 43 L.Ed.2d 616 (1975). A jury's finding of a single conspiracy will be supported if the evidence demonstrates that all of the alleged co-conspirators directed their efforts towards the accomplishment of a common goal or overall plan. United States v. Drougas, 748 F.2d 8, 17 (1st Cir.1984). [E]ach coconspirator need not know of or have contact with all other members, nor must they know all of the details of the conspiracy or participate in every act in furtherance of it. United States v. Martinez-Medina, 279 F.3d 105, 113 (1st Cir.2002). The jury may infer an agreement circumstantially by evidence of, inter alia, a common purpose (such as a purpose to sell illicit drugs), overlap of participants, and interdependence of various elements in the overall plan. Id. at 113-14. 29 Here the conspiratorial unit was the Las Abispas organization headed by Cabezon, which trafficked in a variety of drugs. There was evidence it operated a number of drug points, especially in Guayama and Salinas. Cabezon, according to the evidence, rented out the drug points to Las Abispas members, who answered to him alone. Escobar and his brother operated the Miramar drug point, under the control of Cabezon and his Las Abispas organization. Escobar and/or his brother bought drugs from sources which also supplied other Las Abispas co-defendants. Escobar sold crack to co-defendant Cruz-Pereira, a Las Abispas member who operated another drug point for Las Abispas. Escobar stashed drugs and weapons for one of Las Abispas's suppliers, Mendoza-Lebron. There was ample evidence of Escobar's selling of crack at the Miramar drug point, including from and outside his own residence. The evidence is thus consistent with Escobar's participation in a single drug conspiracy defined by the Las Abispas organization to which he belonged. 30 It is immaterial there was no proof of a direct connection between Escobar and every one of his co-defendants standing trial. A single conspiracy can exist even where there is no personal contact among some of the individual participants; the fact that every defendant did not participate in every transaction necessary to fulfill the common aim does not transform a single ongoing scheme into multiple conspiracies. United States v. Vega-Figueroa, 234 F.3d 744, 753 (1st Cir.2000) (citation omitted). Moreover, [t]he government need not show that every person indicted was a member of the conspiracy. Martinez-Medina, 279 F.3d at 113. The evidence presented here would have allowed a reasonable jury to conclude, as it did, that Escobar was involved in a single illegal enterprise having as its common purpose the selling of illegal drugs. 31 We find no merit in the multiple conspiracy contention.