Opinion ID: 3063429
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cocaine Offenses

Text: As for the drug charges in Counts 1 and 2, the government’s evidence supports the jury’s finding that Blanco conspired with his codefendants and attempted to possess with an intent to distribute cocaine. Blanco’s conversations with Gamez, Mejias and other codefendants showed that he knew of, voluntarily 1 We review de novo a district court’s denial of a judgment of acquittal on sufficiency of evidence grounds. United States v. Yates, 438 F.3d 1307, 1311-12 (11th Cir. 2006) (en banc). In considering the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, with all inferences and credibility choices drawn in the government’s favor. United States v. Nolan, 223 F.3d 1311, 1314 (11th Cir. 2000). We must affirm the convictions if, based on the evidence, “any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (quotation marks omitted). 7 agreed to participate in and helped plan the robbery of the cocaine.2 Contrary to Blanco’s assertions, this is not a “mere presence” case. Two codefendants and a confidential informant provided testimony, supported by video and audio recordings, that Blanco was intimately involved with the planning of the cocaine robbery. Blanco’s intent to distribute the cocaine once he stole it could be inferred from the large amount of cocaine involved, 15 to 20 kilograms (which the seven codefendants agreed to divide amongst themselves), and Blanco’s past involvement in the drug trade. See United States v. Gardiner, 955 F.2d 1492, 1495-96 (11th Cir. 1992) (concluding approximately three kilograms of cocaine was sufficient to support an inference of an intent to distribute). Blanco also took numerous substantial steps toward the commission of the cocaine robbery, including planning out the details with Mejias, recruiting other people to help, flying from Chicago to Miami, renting a hotel room and a vehicle to use during the robbery, instructing his coconspirators on their roles in the 2 See United States Mejias, 97 F.3d 1391, 1392 (11th Cir. 1996) (stating that the elements of cocaine conspiracy include: “(1) that a conspiracy to possess cocaine existed; (2) that the defendant knew of the goal of the conspiracy; and (3) that the defendant, with knowledge, voluntarily joined it”); United States v. McDowell, 250 F.3d 1354, 1365 (11th Cir. 2001) (outlining as elements of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine as: “(1) act[ing] with the kind of culpability required to possess cocaine knowingly and wilfully and with the intent to distribute it; and (2) engag[ing] in conduct which constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the crime under circumstances strongly corroborative of their criminal intent”). 8 robbery and showing up at the final rendevous point just before the robbery was to take place. Indeed, there was little left to do given that the conspirators thought they were on their way to the robbery when they were arrested.