Opinion ID: 696249
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 8 On appeal, Catucci claims that there was insufficient evidence that he knew the two PCB-laden transformers would be disposed of illegally, an essential element in each offense charged. See 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2615(b) (establishing criminal sanctions for knowingly or willfully violating EPA dumping regulations); 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9603(b) (establishing criminal sanctions against any person for failing to notify appropriate government agency of release as soon as he has knowledge of such release); United States v. Buckley, 934 F.2d 84, 89 (6th Cir.1991); United States v. Pacific Hide & Fur Depot, Inc., 768 F.2d 1096, 1098 (9th Cir.1985) (Kennedy J.) (Sec. 2615); United States v. Ward, 676 F.2d 94, 97 (4th Cir.) (same), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 835, 103 S.Ct. 79, 74 L.Ed.2d 76 (1982). 9 Under the established standard of review set out in the margin, 1 we find ample evidence to support the essential jury findings that Catucci knew Almeida and Arcaro would dump the PCBs unlawfully, and that he did not provide timely notice to governmental authorities. 10 First, the evidence at trial demonstrated that Catucci had been informed, by his plant superintendent, that lawful disposal of each PCB-laden transformer would cost between $8,000 and $10,000, since EPA regulations required that they be incinerated. As Almeida and Arcaro were willing to remove the transformers in return for the salvage value of their copper coils, the jury assuredly could infer that Catucci was well aware that the two PCB-laden transformers were not going to be incinerated--at a total minimum cost of $16,000--by volunteers who would receive only their scrap value in return. See United States v. Tejeda, 974 F.2d 210, 213 (1st Cir.1992) (noting that jurors may evaluate evidence in light of their experience as to the natural inclinations of human beings). Second, Catucci subsequently misrepresented that the transformers had been stolen, which permitted the jury to infer consciousness of guilt. See United States v. Passos-Paternina, 918 F.2d 979, 985 (1st Cir.1990) (jury may construe knowingly false statement as evidence of consciousness of guilt), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 982, 111 S.Ct. 1637, 113 L.Ed.2d 732 and cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1210, 111 S.Ct. 2809, 115 L.Ed.2d 981 (1991).