Opinion ID: 551535
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 61 On December 21 the jury found each defendant in this appeal guilty of each offense with which charged. The court set sentencing dates and ordered presentence investigation reports for all defendants. By written orders, on February 11, 1988, the court set aside the conspiracy convictions of Hicks and Sawyer after the government agreed that these charges were lesser included offenses of the continuing criminal enterprise convictions. 3 62 In considering whether the evidence supported the verdict we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and ask whether a reasonable trier of fact could find guilt on the basis of it beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence need not preclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence; a jury is free to choose among reasonable constructions of the evidence. U.S. v. Bell, 678 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. Unit B 1982) (en banc), aff'd on other grounds, 462 U.S. 356, 103 S.Ct. 2398, 76 L.Ed.2d 638 (1983).
63 To prove that [Sawyer] engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise, the government had to prove that (1) [he] committed a felony violation of the Federal law, (2) which was part of a continuing series of such violations, (3) which were undertaken in concert with five or more persons, (4) with respect to whom [he] occupied a position of organizer or supervisor or any other position of management, and (5) from which he derived substantial income or resources. 64 U.S. v. Harris, 908 F.2d 728, 735 (11th Cir.1990) (citing U.S. v. Boldin, 818 F.2d 771, 774 (11th Cir.1987)). Sawyer's motion for judgment of acquittal was denied. On appeal he asserts that the government failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt elements (3), (4) and (5). 65 There was testimony from a confidential informant that Sawyer was a lieutenant in Hicks's organization who supervised cocaine salesmen and dropped off and picked up money. Testimony established that Sawyer's nickname or street name was Boss or Boss Man and that he referred to himself by these names. Ledgers were found in his residence (and other residences) relating to operations and personnel of the Hicks organization. The ledgers contained the names of numerous persons (more than 10) associated with the organization. Some ledgers contained notes that can be interpreted as relating to power or supervision by Sawyer: Dear Boss, I want to get my hair done. Angie; Man, I am not in power like Boss. Other notations state Approved by Boss (or Boss Man), which evidences a managerial or supervisory role. The only other person whose name appeared in that context was Hicks. 66 The evidence was sufficient to submit element (4) to the jury. Identification of the individuals is unnecessary. U.S. v. Raffone, 693 F.2d 1343, 1348 (11th Cir.1982). The subordinates need not have acted in concert with one another. There can exist separate individual relations between defendant and the subordinates. U.S. v. Boldin, 818 F.2d 771, 775 (11th Cir.1987). The defendant need not be a sole leader or a kingpin, only a supervisor or manager. Id. at 776. 67 The government may establish the element of derivation of substantial income or resources by circumstantial evidence. U.S. v. Draine, 811 F.2d 1419, 1421 (11th Cir.) (per curiam), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 827, 108 S.Ct. 94, 98 L.Ed.2d 55 (1987); U.S. v. Phillips, 664 F.2d 971, 1035 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981), cert. denied, 457 U.S. 1136, 102 S.Ct. 2965, 73 L.Ed.2d 1354 (1982). The record contains ample evidence that large amounts of cocaine and tens of thousands of dollars passed through the operation in which Sawyer was an integral player. See U.S. v. Graziano, 710 F.2d 691, 698 (11th Cir.1983) (narcotics may constitute resource for purposes of this element of Sec. 848 offense), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 937, 104 S.Ct. 1910, 80 L.Ed.2d 459 (1984). The jury may reasonably conclude that the supervisors and managers of such a lucrative operation derived income from it. See Draine, 811 F.2d at 1421; U.S. v. Bolts, 558 F.2d 316, 321 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 930, 98 S.Ct. 417, 54 L.Ed.2d 290 (1977). In addition, investigators discovered sizable amounts of cash and expensive jewelry in Sawyer's possession (and cash in houses where he lived) though he claimed to be employed at $250 per week. He was seen sitting on the floor counting a 10 to 12 inch deep pile of currency and was observed handing large bundles of currency to his brother through a car window. At one point he complained to police, who conducted a remarkable number of raids and searches, Why do you keep coming in here and taking my money. Although he attempted to offer plausible, legitimate explanations, the jury was free to conclude that assets he held represented income derived from his criminal offenses and to infer that some of the large amounts of money he handled either was or became his. 68 There was no error in denial of the motion for judgment of acquittal.
69 Samuel Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence as to his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846. Construing the testimony of witness Rolle, described earlier, most favorably to the government, the evidence showed that Samuel Smith was intimately familiar with the general purpose of the cocaine distribution conspiracy and that he participated in it, and furthered it, by selling cocaine for Hicks. On the basis of this evidence the jury could reasonably reject Samuel Smith's argument that he knew nothing of the conspiracy and was only a mere buyer of cocaine from the other defendants.