Opinion ID: 604622
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Possession With Intent to Distribute and Distribution

Text: 11 Coconspirator Ricardo Rios possessed and distributed heroin to Agent Baken. The jury properly was instructed that it could find the defendants guilty of the substantive violations committed by their coconspirators. See United States v. Pinkerton, 328 U.S. 640, 645-47 (1946). Having found the defendants guilty of conspiracy upon sufficient evidence, and having been instructed on a Pinkerton theory, the jury could also find them guilty of the charged substantive offenses. See Mares, 940 F.2d at 460; Torres-Rodriguez, 930 F.2d at 1382. 12 The defendants argue that there was insufficient evidence of dominion or control over the heroin to sustain convictions for possession with intent to distribute. We reject the argument. The existence of coconspirator liability obviates the need for proof of constructive possession. See Mares, 940 F.2d at 460.