Opinion ID: 677313
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Marina Zarnes

Text: 44 The evidence established that Zarnes played a crucial role in the early stages of the conspiracy as the Nietupskis' dependable supplier of methamphetamine and cocaine. In October 1987, Zarnes' relationship with Zahm led Zahm to act as intermediary in Zarnes' first sale of methamphetamine to Thomas Nietupski and Nancy Nietupski. Once Thomas and Nancy met Zarnes in December 1987, they set about to standardize their future dealings with one another and transacted a second sale. Subsequently, in May 1988, Nancy went to the west coast, presumably to see Zarnes, and returned with methamphetamine. Telephone records showed that Nancy placed several calls to Zarnes during the month of May. In July 1988, Nancy ventured to California again, this time accompanied by several others, including Matthews, and transacted another deal with Zarnes. Nancy attempted to contact Zarnes in late September 1988, but was unable to find Zarnes, who by this time was in jail. The taped conversation between Thomas and Nancy recorded prior to September 1988 indicated that the relationship between Zarnes and the Nietupskis was a cooperative and mutually beneficial one. Thomas and Nancy talked in glowing terms of their prior drug deals with Zarnes and of Zarnes' honesty. Nancy also spoke of her plan to return to California in search of Zarnes for more business. Nancy indicated that her last transaction with Zarnes involved $14,000, and that she was too good a customer for Zarnes to lose. Zarnes' claims that she knew nothing of the overall conspiracy does not diminish her culpability. A conspirator need not be overly involved with other conspirators, or be aware of the details of the conspiracy, to be held responsible for the acts of the conspiracy. United States v. Donovan, 24 F.3d 908, 914 (7th Cir.1994). The evidence of Zarnes' participation in the conspiracy adequately supported her conviction.