Opinion ID: 198229
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Rosario's Violent Acts

Text: 33 In the summer of 1995, an unidentified man approached Rodrguez, Rosario, and Joe at Beaver Park and asked for drugs. Rodrguez, suspicious that the man was an informant, told him to get out of my face because you're going to get your butt kicked. Tr. 10/16 at 29. When the man insisted on purchasing drugs, Rosario reiterated the threat. When the man failed to leave, Rosario just whacked him, id., according to an eye witness. Rodrguez and Joe escalated the brawl, and all three punched, kicked, and yelled at the man. After the man left the scene, Rosario and Rodrguez concluded that the man was one of those rats ... one of those guys that work for the cops, ... giv[ing] [drugs] to the cops so we get busted for it. Id. at 30. 34 Rosario argues that the fight had no connection to the crack distribution conspiracy, and that a [r]efusal to sell drugs to one with whom one fights frustrated, rather than furthered, the objectives of the conspiracy. See Def. Br. at 32-33. This is an artful, but incorrect interpretation of the evidence. This was not an attempt by Rodrguez and Rosario to prevent a drug transaction. Rather, the evidence shows an attempt to set a tone for their drug-trafficking operation: that suspected informants would be dealt with harshly. As the district court found: 35 [The beating] was part of a campaign of intimidation, to further the interest of the conspiracy in maintaining discipline in its ranks, by treating anyone suspected of being an informant with hostility. 36 Tr. 10/16 at 134. 37 Rosario's violence against a suspected informant is relevant to prove his membership in the conspiracy and his acceptance of its objectives. See David, 940 F.2d at 737 (evidence of threats and violent acts in aftermath of cocaine theft is admissible to prove defendant's role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy). 38 Contrary to Rosario's claim, the evidence of the beating does not stand alone as proof of his membership in the conspiracy. This is not a case of guilt by association. In addition to his discussion with Rodrguez about how to deal with suspected informants, four witnesses testified that they either saw Rosario selling drugs and/or purchased drugs directly from him. One witness testified that Rosario delivered an eight ball of crack to him on consignment, explaining the terms of repayment to Rodrguez. Another witness testified that she saw Rosario cut and package large amounts of crack along with Famania. Consequently, Rosario's participation in the conspiracy was established beyond a reasonable doubt. 39