Opinion ID: 540010
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 18 Before considering specific claims as to the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the general standards by which these contentions are to be assessed. 19 An appellant challenging the sufficiency of the evidence bears  'a very heavy burden.'  United States v. Nusraty, 867 F.2d 759, 762 (2d Cir.1989) (quoting United States v. Young, 745 F.2d 733, 762 (2d Cir.1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1084, 105 S.Ct. 1842, 85 L.Ed.2d 142 (1985) (quoting United States v. Carson, 702 F.2d 351, 361 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 462 U.S. 1108, 103 S.Ct. 2456, 2457, 77 L.Ed.2d 1335 (1983))); see United States v. Buck, 804 F.2d 239, 242 (2d Cir.1986); United States v. Grubczak, 793 F.2d 458, 462-63 (2d Cir.1986). In reviewing such claims, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and construe all possible inferences in its favor.... United States v. Badalamenti, 794 F.2d 821, 828 (2d Cir.1986) (citing United States v. Martino, 759 F.2d 998, 1002 (2d Cir.1985)). 20 If 'any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime,' the conviction must stand. Badalamenti, 794 F.2d at 828 (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in Jackson )). The test is 'whether the jury, drawing reasonable inferences from the evidence, may fairly and logically have concluded that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.'  United States v. Chang An-Lo, 851 F.2d 547, 554 (2d Cir.) (quoting Grubczak, 793 F.2d at 463), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 493, 102 L.Ed.2d 530 (1988). The government is not required to preclude every reasonable hypothesis which is consistent with innocence. Chang An-Lo, 851 F.2d at 554 (citing United States v. Fiore, 821 F.2d 127, 128 (2d Cir.1987)). In sum, [a] jury's verdict will be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the government, to support it. United States v. Nersesian, 824 F.2d 1294, 1324 (2d Cir.1987) (citing Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942)), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 957, 958, 108 S.Ct. 355, 357, 98 L.Ed.2d 380, 382 (1987), 484 U.S. 1061, 108 S.Ct. 1018, 98 L.Ed.2d 983 (1988). 21 We now turn to appellants' specific claims of insufficiency. 22
23 While searching an apartment in the Bronx leased by N. Vazquez and apparently shared with a male occupant, agents found a loaded .357 Magnum hand gun under a queen size mattress. The apartment also contained two bundles of heroin, two bulletproof vests, $209,485 in cash, jewelry appraised at $105,695, a $10,000 gold ingot, drug records, rubber stamps and stamp pads, a heat sealer, and several address books containing the telephone numbers of various other members of the Torres Organization. The apartment was also tied to the Torres Organization through a recorded telephone conversation which indicated that a package of heroin was to be dropped off there. 24 On this evidence, N. Vazquez was convicted under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c)(1) (1988), which provides criminal penalties for anyone who during and in relation to any ... drug trafficking crime ..., uses or carries a firearm.... On appeal, Vazquez claims that the circumstances linking the .357 Magnum to the narcotics activity were too tenuous to sustain a conviction under section 924(c)(1), especially in light of United States v. Feliz-Cordero, 859 F.2d 250 (2d Cir.1988), a case in which a section 924(c)(1) conviction was reversed because of insufficiency of the supporting evidence. 25 Specifically, N. Vazquez claims that (1) since there was another, male occupant of the apartment, and especially since the firearm had a strong recoil and a heavy pull-weight rendering it more appropriate for use by a man, the inference of possession which normally arises when an apartment is inhabited by one person does not apply; (2) the evidence established that two men were required to lift the mattress which concealed the gun, precluding any implication that the weapon was readily available to N. Vazquez; (3) there was no evidence that the apartment functioned as a storage location for narcotics on an ongoing basis; and (4) there was no evidence that N. Vazquez ever carried a weapon, or that weapons were kept in the apartment at any time other than the date of the search. All of these circumstances, N. Vazquez claims, provide an even more favorable basis than in Feliz-Cordero for finding, as a matter of law, that the evidence was insufficient. 26 We conclude, on the contrary, that our decisions in United States v. Alvarado, 882 F.2d 645 (2d Cir.1989), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 1114, 107 L.Ed.2d 1021 (1990), and United States v. Meggett, 875 F.2d 24 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 166, 107 L.Ed.2d 123 (1989), call for affirmance of N. Vazquez' conviction under section 924(c)(1). See also United States v. Matra, 841 F.2d 837 (8th Cir.1988). 27 In Meggett, we interpreted Feliz-Cordero as holding: 28 that a gun found in a dresser drawer of an apartment in which some of the defendants' narcotics paraphernalia was located had not been used within the meaning of Sec. 924(c)(1). Implicitly recognizing the teaching of the prior case law to the effect that use requires possession of a gun under circumstances where the weapon is so placed as to be an integral part of the offense, we emphasized the absence of proof that the defendants in Feliz-Cordero had placed the weapon to have it available for ready use during the transaction. 29 Meggett, 875 F.2d at 29 (citation omitted). 30 Our holding in Meggett made clear, after a detailed review of the pertinent precedents, that a defendant can use a gun in violation of section 924(c)(1) without firing, brandishing or displaying it. Meggett, 875 F.2d at 29; see, e.g., United States v. Robinson, 857 F.2d 1006, 1010 (5th Cir.1988). In Meggett, we determined that the jury could reasonably conclude that the five loaded firearms in [defendant's] apartment were on hand to protect that apartment as a storage and processing point for large quantities of narcotics and that therefore the presence of weapons furthered or facilitated the narcotics operation and was an integral part thereof. 875 F.2d at 29. 31 Our more recent decision in Alvarado is also pertinent, especially in view of N. Vazquez' contention concerning the inaccessibility of the .357 Magnum stored under the mattress. In a somewhat similar situation, we said in Alvarado that [a]lthough it is true that these guns were placed in a locked safe, a reasonable jury could infer that the guns were located there to protect both the money and the cocaine in the event that a drug deal went sour and a buyer demanded a return of his cash. 882 F.2d at 654. In Matra, the Eighth Circuit upheld a section 924(c)(1) conviction, finding that a machine gun hidden under a waterbed frame in a locked bedroom was an integral part of [the] criminal undertaking because it served to protect the cocaine and cash stored in the apartment. 841 F.2d at 842-43. 32 No different conclusion is required here. The jury was certainly entitled to conclude, in view of the overall physical evidence seized at the N. Vazquez apartment and the recorded telephone conversation regarding a delivery of heroin there, that the apartment was used for narcotics trafficking on a continuing basis, bolstering the likelihood that the weapon seized was used during and in relation to any ... drug trafficking crime within the meaning of section 924(c)(1). Testimony that two men were required to lift the mattress which concealed the gun did not preclude the jury from finding that the gun would be available to a person who knew its location, without any need to lift the mattress. Further, there was explicit testimony that a woman would be able to fire the weapon. In any event, we see no merit in N. Vazquez' novel contention that, in effect, a defendant cannot be convicted under section 924(c)(1) if it is likely that a cohort in a narcotics crime, rather than the defendant, will use a particular firearm to further their joint criminal enterprise. Cf. United States v. Rivera, 844 F.2d 916, 926 (2d Cir.1988) (not necessary that exercise of dominion and control by others be disproved; only necessary that evidence support jury finding that defendant exercised dominion and control over weapon). In sum, we conclude that the evidence amply supported N. Vazquez' conviction under section 924(c). 33
34 Velez was also convicted of using a firearm in relation to a narcotics trafficking offense in violation of section 924(c)(1). The evidence to support this charge consisted of a slip itemizing receipts and expenses given by Velez to Flores on or about June 17, 1987, one of many submitted by Velez to Flores over the four-month period covered by the seized ledgers, and a corresponding ledger entry by Flores. The slip showed a $150 expenditure for a shotgun with the added notations: Bought a shotgun for our protection, and we had to buy a gun because there [are] a lot of things happ[en]ing so we want to feel safe. Flores entered the deduction in his ledger as follows: Shotgun--150. However, the shotgun was not seized or presented as evidence. 35 On appeal, Velez claims that this evidence was insufficient to support his conviction (1) where no shotgun was recovered or seen by any witness, (2) because the conviction was based on his uncorroborated admission, and (3) because there was no evidence that he used the weapon for the stated purpose. We agree with Velez' third contention, that the slip and ledger entry fail to establish that the shotgun was used during and in relation to any ... drug trafficking crime within the meaning of section 924(c)(1), and accordingly reverse his conviction on the firearm count without considering his other grounds for reversal. 36 We stated in Meggett that statutory use requires possession of a gun under circumstances where the weapon is so placed as to be an integral part of the offense, 875 F.2d at 29 (construing Feliz-Cordero ), noting that the reversal of the firearm conviction in Feliz-Cordero resulted from the absence of proof that the defendants ... had placed the weapon to have it available for ready use during the transaction, id., even though the weapon in Feliz-Cordero was found together with drug paraphernalia in a defendant's apartment. Here, by contrast, assuming that Velez did purchase the shotgun as reflected by the slip and ledger entry, and assuming further that he intended to use it as stated--for our protection, it nonetheless remained to be proved that it was actually so used. There was no evidence as to where the shotgun was placed, and no evidence that the shotgun was ever in fact utilized to protect the narcotics operation or its proceeds. Under these circumstances, both the statutory language and our precedents require the reversal of Velez' conviction under section 924(c)(1). 37
38 D. Rivera was convicted on count one, the narcotics conspiracy count, count thirteen for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute it, and count seventeen for a section 924(c)(1) firearm violation. Although he sought acquittal in a posttrial motion pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 29(c) and renews his request for acquittal here, his appellate arguments are directed solely to the convictions on counts thirteen and seventeen. Specifically, he contends that there was an inadequate nexus between him and items of contraband, a quantity of cocaine and a hand gun, seized by the government on June 24, 1987 at 527 East 147th Street in the Bronx. 39 We disagree. The nexus was amply established. At trial, the government showed through a number of taped conversations that D. Rivera conducted a narcotics business from that address, which was the situs of a four-story apartment building. According to the testimony of NYDETF agents, the raid on that date on apartment no. 7 in that building yielded a pistol holster; car rental receipts in the names of Flores and Arcelay; two social security cards bearing D. Rivera's printed name and signature; and a scrap of paper with Flores' telephone number. 40 A search of apartment no. 6, one floor beneath apartment no. 7, was conducted simultaneously. Three individuals were found there, including D. Rivera. The agents also found boxes of glassine envelopes; beepers; a business card bearing Nelson Flores' beeper number and another telephone number next to the word Nlson [sic] on the reverse side of the card; and approximately $52,160 worth of jewelry. In the kitchen, agents noticed that a door leading to a dumbwaiter shaft was ajar. There was a ladder inside the shaft that began at apartment no. 6 and descended into the shaft. There was also a string hanging down into the shaft from the doorway in the kitchen of apartment no. 6. On a ledge inside the shaft, one floor below apartment no. 6, an investigating agent found 75.5 grams of 92% pure cocaine and a triple-beam O-haus scale. He also found $5,942 in cash and a loaded .38 caliber revolver attached to the string at the bottom of the shaft. According to the agents, all of the shaft doors that led to the other apartments were either painted shut or otherwise sealed, so that there was access to the shaft only from apartment no. 6. 41 Considering the evidence provided by the taped conversations that D. Rivera conducted a narcotics operation at this location; the other items seized during the search; and D. Rivera's apprehension in apartment no. 6 at the time of the search, the evidence showed far more than [D. Rivera's] mere proximity to the [contraband] and provided an ample basis for a reasonable juror to find that [he] had constructive possession of the [contraband]. United States v. Tribunella, 749 F.2d 104, 112 (2d Cir.1984).  'It is not necessary that such evidence remove every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.'  Id. (quoting United States v. Craven, 478 F.2d 1329, 1333 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 866, 94 S.Ct. 54, 38 L.Ed.2d 85 (1973)). We find no basis to disturb D. Rivera's conviction on counts thirteen and seventeen. 42
43 Cruz claims that the evidence was insufficient to convict him on count one for narcotics conspiracy, count seven for possession of heroin with intent to distribute it, and count fifteen for a section 924(c)(1) firearm violation. Since Cruz challenges his conviction under count one for narcotics conspiracy, and all the remaining appellants whose insufficiency claims we must consider contest only their convictions under this count, it is appropriate at this juncture to consider the general principles governing sufficiency of the evidence to sustain conspiracy convictions. 44 Since conspiracy by its very nature is a secretive operation, United States v. Provenzano, 615 F.2d 37, 45 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 953, 100 S.Ct. 2921, 64 L.Ed.2d 810 (1980), the  '[e]xistence of and participation in a conspiracy ... may be established ... through circumstantial evidence.'  United States v. Soto, 716 F.2d 989, 991 (2d Cir.1983) (quoting United States v. Sanzo, 673 F.2d 64, 69 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 858, 103 S.Ct. 128, 74 L.Ed.2d 111 (1982)). However, knowledge of the existence and goals of a conspiracy does not of itself make one a coconspirator. United States v. Cianchetti, 315 F.2d 584, 588 (2d Cir.1963). 45 Similarly, [a]ssociation with a conspirator, without more, is insufficient to establish the requisite degree of participation in a conspiratorial venture.... United States v. Steinberg, 525 F.2d 1126, 1134 (2d Cir.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 971, 96 S.Ct. 2167, 48 L.Ed.2d 794 (1976); see also United States v. Johnson, 513 F.2d 819, 824 (2d Cir.1975) ([g]uilt may not be inferred from mere association with a guilty party). Moreover,  'absent evidence of purposeful behavior, mere presence at the scene of a crime, even when coupled with knowledge that a crime is being committed, is insufficient to establish membership in a conspiracy....'  United States v. Chang An-Lo, 851 F.2d 547, 554 (2d Cir.) (quoting United States v. Martino, 759 F.2d 998, 1002 (2d Cir.1985)), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 493, 102 L.Ed.2d 530 (1988). 46 Thus, evidence of purposeful behavior designed to further a conspiracy must be shown to prove membership in that conspiracy. See United States v. Torres, 519 F.2d 723, 726 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1019, 96 S.Ct. 457, 46 L.Ed.2d 392 (1975). However, once a conspiracy is shown to exist, the evidence sufficient to link another defendant to it need not be overwhelming. United States v. Casamento, 887 F.2d 1141, 1156 (2d Cir.1989), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 1138, 107 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1990). 47 We now turn to the specifics of Cruz' insufficiency claim. Cruz was arrested on June 24, 1987 when a team of NYDETF agents gained access to an apartment at 2700 Grand Concourse through the use of a battering ram. Agents then entered one of the back bedrooms of the apartment, where they encountered six individuals, four of whom were emptying a duffel bag filled with glassine envelopes out a window. The duffel bag was then flung from the window and was recovered by a NYDETF agent stationed in the courtyard below. The bag contained approximately 6,150 glassine envelopes of heroin packaged in bundles of ten and weighing a total of approximately 215 grams. An agent also testified that when he entered the room, Cruz was lunging for a loaded nine millimeter semi-automatic weapon lying on a table in the room, but was intercepted by the agent before he reached the gun. 48 In addition to the testimony of the arresting officers, the Government presented other evidence linking Cruz with the Torres Organization, including the testimony of agents who surveilled Cruz coming and going from several locations controlled by the Torres Organization, often with packages in hand. In addition, several accounting slips sent to Flores by Velez made reference to a runner named Pete, which was Cruz' nickname. Further, the government presented a taped conversation between Cruz and Flores in which they discussed the operation of one of the Torres Organization's sales locations. 49 Despite this evidence, Cruz disavows any involvement in the conspiracy, and contends that his presence in the apartment on the day of his arrest was simply a chance presence in an environment of criminality, where he was wearing a matching cabana set and asserts that he had made a brief stop en route to an outing at the beach. Cruz also contends that since he was not seen in physical contact with the heroin jettisoned from the window, he cannot be charged with its possession, and further that the act of lunging for the weapon does not meet the requirement of section 924(c)(1) that during and in relation to any crime of ... drug trafficking ..., [he] use[ ] or carr[y] a firearm. 50 We conclude, however, that the evidence was sufficient to convict Cruz on all counts. The government's wiretap evidence, the appearance of Cruz' name on the accounting slips, and his presence in the apartment at the time of the raid provided ample evidence for the jury to conclude that he was part of the charged conspiracy. Cruz' conviction on count seven, for possession of heroin with intent to distribute it, was also supported by the evidence. 51 There is no requirement that a defendant be observed in physical contact with narcotics in order to be convicted of its possession. Rather, possession of narcotics may be actual or constructive. See United States v. Aiello, 864 F.2d 257, 263 (2d Cir.1988); United States v. Tribunella, 749 F.2d 104, 111 (2nd Cir.1984).  'Constructive possession exists when a person ... knowingly has the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over an object, either directly or through others.'  United States v. Pelusio, 725 F.2d 161, 167 (2d Cir.1983) (quoting United States v. Craven, 478 F.2d 1329, 1333 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 866, 94 S.Ct. 54, 38 L.Ed.2d 85 (1973)). On the facts presented, it was quite reasonable for the jury to have concluded that the heroin jettisoned from the window of the apartment by Cruz' codefendants was within the constructive possession of Cruz. 52 Finally, Cruz claims with regard to count fifteen that his thwarted effort to reach the semi-automatic weapon when the NYDETF agents entered the apartment does not constitute the use of that firearm within the meaning of section 924(c)(1). As discussed above, however, section 924(c)(1) has been applied in numerous situations where firearms were simply kept available in locations where narcotics activities took place. See e.g., United States v. Alvarado, 882 F.2d 645, 654 (2d Cir.1989), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 1114, 107 L.Ed.2d 1021 (1990); United States v. Meggett, 875 F.2d 24, 29 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 166, 107 L.Ed.2d 123 (1989); United States v. Robinson, 857 F.2d 1006, 1010 (5th Cir.1988); United States v. Matra, 841 F.2d 837, 842 (8th Cir.1988). A fortiori, Cruz' barely thwarted effort to utilize a firearm so located against the NYDETF agents violates the statute. In view of the evidence, furthermore, that the agents announced their presence before battering down the door to the apartment, and that the agent who entered the room was wearing a bulletproof vest with DEA written across it and had a gold police shield on a chain around his neck, the jury was surely entitled to conclude that Cruz was attempting to use the firearm knowingly against law enforcement officers. 53
54 Padron claims that the evidence presented was insufficient to support his conviction under count one for narcotics conspiracy. While conceding his knowledge of the existence and goals of the conspiracy, Padron claims that his membership in the conspiracy was improperly presumed because of his association with his roommate, an individual named Jimmy, who, Padron contends, was the manager of one of the organization's sales locations. 55 We disagree. The government contended that Padron comanaged one of the heroin sales locations with his roommate Jimmy. One of the intercepted conversations played for the jury contained the following exchange between Padron and Flores regarding that location: 56 FLORES: (UI), uh, why didn't you people send money today? 57 PADRON: Because we, we were in the, uh ... because we're (UI) here. He beeped and (UI) to beep ... waiting to (UI) that you had left already. That's why we didn't send it. We had it upstairs. 58 FLORES: Okay, uh ... okay. I'm gonna--you'll be sent goods tomorrow. But you guys have to--one thing--you guys have to send everyday ... You guys have to improve the spot, and you have to send every day, okay? 59 PADRON: But if--look, Nelson, let me give you some details. The spot was improving. We were sending you (UI) day everything that ... everything (UI). Does (UI) think that we don't pay ... don't pay? Everything we sent was (UI) ... 60 FLORES: And it has to be (UI) everyday. See they are complaining that, that ... 61 PADRON: That's why we wanted that a higher amount of material be sent, to make a little--only one payment for the amount of material because this way we ... [stutters] ... (UI) 62 FLORES: Yeah, but since you didn't send, didn't (UI) ... they're not--Anyway, that's fine, forget it. We'll ... open for you tomorrow. 63 PADRON: Early? 64 FLORES: Early. Beep ... beep me. If they don't bring anything over to you in an hour, beep me. I'll get it for you myself. 65 PADRON: That's fine. 66 There was testimony at trial that Padron acknowledged, at the time of his arrest and after receiving Miranda warnings, his participation in the quoted conversation. Padron was also mentioned by Flores in another conversation with Cruz regarding the closing of the heroin sales location. In that conversation Flores was heard to say Did you ... by any chance tell Jimmy or Fernando that we were closing them down. Additionally, the jury was presented with drug ledgers containing notations for Nando. 67 Based upon this evidence, the jury was justified in concluding that Padron participated in the conspiracy. 68
69 Arcelay also contends that the evidence was insufficient to convict him under count one for narcotics conspiracy. He acknowledges that he was the roommate and a close friend of Flores during the period covered by the investigation, and also admits to having been a cocaine dealer. Arcelay claims, however, that the government failed to establish that he was involved in the heroin conspiracy charged, because he lacked the specific intent to advance the conspiracy to sell heroin, but rather acted solely as a roommate and friend of Flores. 70 In support of this claim, Arcelay refers to conversations intercepted by the government between Arcelay and Flores in which Flores assured Arcelay that Arcelay was not under police surveillance. Arcelay contends that Flores knew or suspected that Flores was then under surveillance, and that Flores' lack of concern over surveillance of Arcelay is consistent with Arcelay's claim that Flores did not consider Arcelay a part of the heroin conspiracy. Arcelay also points out that several of the rolodexes seized by the police which listed many members of the Torres Organization did not include Arcelay's name, giving further credence to his claim that he was not a member of the conspiracy. 71 On the other hand, the government contends that Arcelay, who had a full-time job at a local hospital, while not a full-time employee of the Torres organization, was nonetheless allied with the Torres organization and could be counted on to assist it when needed. At trial, the government established that Arcelay allowed V. Torres to purchase and register a car in Arcelay's name, and that this car was used to transport drug proceeds by the Torres Organization. On another occasion, Arcelay allowed Flores to use his name as a reference when Flores purchased a car and when he opened a safe deposit box. On still another occasion, Arcelay cancelled a lease and returned a key to a landlord for an apartment in Queens used by the Torres Organization. Finally, the government also presented evidence that Arcelay frequently relayed messages for Flores to other members of the Organization, and on one occasion assisted Flores in locating a worker for a special assignment. 72 In view of Arcelay's conceded knowledge of the existence, purpose and operations of the conspiracy, the foregoing evidence sufficed to establish demonstrated awareness of [the] conspiracy's existence coupled with his active participation. United States v. Torres, 519 F.2d 723, 726 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1019, 96 S.Ct. 457, 46 L.Ed.2d 392 (1975). As the government correctly contends, once this was shown, Arcelay's claim that his participation was motivated by friendship with Flores is irrelevant to the question of Arcelay's criminal liability. See United States v. Bagaric, 706 F.2d 42, 53 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 840, 917, 104 S.Ct. 133, 134, 283, 78 L.Ed.2d 128, 261 (1983). 73
74 Coffie owned a small construction business in the Bronx. He rented beepers to the Torres Organization over a two-year period, and supplied members of the Organization with false income documents such as a paycheck, earning statements, and wage and tax statements. In addition, on one occasion he supplied and delivered an air conditioning unit to one of the locations where heroin was processed. The ledgers of the Torres Organization reflect more than $200,000 in payments to Coffie. He was a participant in a number of intercepted telephone conversations with Flores, in one of which Coffie made reference to a recent telephone conversation he had had with Victor. 75 While conceding that much evidence was offered by the Government to show that ... Coffie freely associated with members of the conspiracy and that some actions he took actually aided the conspiracy, Coffie claims that a careful analysis of the proof against him will demonstrate, amply, that the jury did not have sufficient proof before it to find that he knew of the conspiracy or that he willfully associated himself with it. Rather, Coffie contends that the prosecution failed to establish the element of guilty knowledge that would otherwise transform his routine business activities, such as renting beepers and selling air-conditioners, from unremarkable commerce into the intentional furtherance of a heroin conspiracy. 76 We disagree. In United States v. Zambrano, 776 F.2d 1091 (2d Cir.1985), we said: 77 [E]vidence that a defendant simply supplies goods, innocent in themselves, to someone who intended to use them illegally is not enough to support a conviction for conspiracy. But, if there is something more, some indication that the defendant knew of and intended to further the illegal venture, that he somehow encouraged the illegal use of the goods or had a stake in such use, sufficient evidence has been presented to enable the jury to conclude the defendant had knowledge of and an intent to join in the conspiracy.... 78 Id. at 1095 (emphasis added); cf. United States v. Rush, 666 F.2d 10, 11-12 (2d Cir.1981) (loaning money for purchase of marijuana at an exorbitant and usurious profit ... through a clandestine method sufficient to convict for conspiracy; defendant conceded knowledge of illegal use of loan proceeds); United States v. Piampiano, 271 F.2d 273 (2d Cir.1959) (vegetable dealer supplying sugar to illegal distillery convicted of conspiracy; knowledge implied from circumstances, including departure from normal business and secretive mode of transacting sugar business). 79 There was clearly something more in this case. The jury could properly infer that in supplying false income documents to members of the Torres Organization, Coffie was aware that they required this assistance because they were not engaged in legitimate activities which would routinely provide them with such documents. More to the point, a number of the taped telephone conversations were more than sufficient to warrant a jury conclusion that Coffie knew the business in which the Torres Organization was engaged. When arranging with Coffie to install an air conditioner at one of the heroin processing locations, for example, Flores told Coffie that the installation would have to take place late at night or before they start, to which Coffie replied no problem. On another occasion, Flores and Coffie engaged in an extensive discussion of beeper malfunctions from which the jury was entitled to infer that Coffie knew the use to which the beepers were being put. In sum, as the district court concluded, While there may be no 'smoking gun' heroin transaction linking Coffie to the conspiracy, there is a wealth of circumstantial evidence that, when viewed together, supports the jury's conclusion and is sufficient as a matter of law to sustain the conviction. United States v. Torres, 699 F.Supp. 419, 426 (S.D.N.Y.1988). 80