Opinion ID: 739313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 4 Appellants Leonard Gene Lied, William Hobart Russell, Bob Alan Dickinson, Ruben Gallegos, Maxwell Gene Wallace, and Arturo Pena-Rodriguez argue that there is insufficient evidence to support their convictions for conspiring to possess marijuana or cocaine with the intent to distribute under count one. In addition, Lied and Russell contend that the evidence was insufficient to support their convictions under count eight for conspiring to launder money. In conducting a sufficiency review, we must view the evidence and the inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict and determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found these defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Velgar-Vivero, 8 F.3d 236, 239 (5th Cir.1993), cert. denied, 511 U.S. 1096, 114 S.Ct. 1865, 128 L.Ed.2d 486 (1994). 5 The elements of a drug conspiracy are: (1) the existence of an agreement between two or more persons to violate narcotics law; (2) the defendant's knowledge of the agreement; and (3) the defendant's voluntary participation in the agreement. United States v. Gonzalez, 76 F.3d 1339, 1346 (5th Cir.1996). Similarly, a conspiracy to launder money under § 1956(a)(1)(A)(I) requires proof that (1) there is a conspiratorial agreement, (2) one conspirator knowingly commits an overt act by participating in a financial transaction, (3) the financial transaction involves the proceeds of an unlawful activity, (4) the conspirator participating in the transaction had the intent to promote or further that unlawful activity, and (5) the transaction affected interstate or foreign commerce. United States v. Fierro, 38 F.3d 761, 768 (5th Cir.1994), cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1051, 115 S.Ct. 1431, 131 L.Ed.2d 312 (1995). 6 This court has recognized that [a] jury may infer the elements of a conspiracy conviction from circumstantial evidence.... United States v. Leal, 74 F.3d 600, 606 (5th Cir.1996). We have also held that a guilty verdict may be sustained if supported only by the uncorroborated testimony of a coconspirator, even if the witness is interested due to a plea bargain or promise of leniency, unless the testimony is incredible or insubstantial on its face. United States v. Bermea, 30 F.3d 1539, 1552 (5th Cir.1994), cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1097, 115 S.Ct. 1825, 131 L.Ed.2d 746 (1995). Testimony is incredible as a matter of law only if it relates to facts that the witness could not possibly have observed or to events which could not have occurred under the laws of nature. Id. 7 With these principles in mind, we find that the following evidence presented by the government was sufficient to sustain each of the convictions against the appellants.
8 The evidence against Lied, Russell, and Dickinson (collectively the Dallas Appellants) consisted primarily of the testimony of Felipe Madrid, Jr., a co-conspirator, governmental informant, and owner of United Freight Service (UFS), the corporation through which the Dallas Appellants conducted their drug-trafficking activities. Madrid testified that in the summer of 1990 he met with Gonzalez, Gil, and Lied to plan what they were going to do with the proceeds of marijuana. According to Madrid, he served as an interpreter and middle man for the drug organization, wherein Gonzalez was the supplier and Lied was Gonzalez's original distributor in the Dallas area. Madrid testified that this organization began operating in the fall of 1990. 9 Madrid described the organization's standard procedure for handling a load of marijuana. The process began when Gonzalez arranged for Madrid to pick up marijuana from various locations in El Paso with his van. Madrid then took the marijuana to a stash house located on Dale Douglas Street in El Paso where it was weighed and repackaged in small boxes. The small boxes of marijuana were then placed in the van and transported to a warehouse on Rojas Street in El Paso. At the warehouse, Madrid placed the small boxes of marijuana inside larger boxes, filled the larger boxes with Styrofoam, and loaded an 18-wheeler with the larger boxes. Madrid then drove the 18-wheeler to one of two warehouses rented by the organization in the Dallas area. 10 More specifically, Madrid testified that on one occasion Gil gave him a three- to five-pound sample of marijuana that he took to Lied. 1 Madrid also testified that it was standard procedure for him to give a copy of the recorded weights of shipments of marijuana to Lied. Those weights were used to determine how much the particular load of marijuana was worth. In addition, the weights were relevant because Lied paid Madrid for his work at the rate of $15 per pound of marijuana that he hauled. Madrid testified that he had an ongoing discussion with Lied regarding the delivery of money to Gonzalez for marijuana. On at least a few occasions, Lied gave Madrid drug money that he subsequently delivered to Gonzalez. Moreover, on one occasion in which drug money was transferred, Madrid testified that he, Gonzalez, Gallegos, and Lied were all present. The amounts of these drug payments ranged from $150,000 to $700,000. 11 Dickinson was the freight manager for UFS. While it is undisputed that Dickinson handled a sizable amount of legitimate cargo hauled by UFS, Madrid testified that Dickinson also participated in the organization's drug-trafficking activities. For example, the organization's stash house on Dale Douglas was rented in Dickinson's name. Moreover, Madrid testified that Dickinson sometimes helped him weigh and repackage the marijuana at the stash house. Finally, Madrid testified that it was his belief that on several occasions Dickinson drove trucks that he knew were full of marijuana and picked up drug money. Finally, Madrid testified that Dickinson sometimes helped him count the money that they received for marijuana. 2 In this regard, in the fall of 1991, Dickinson and Madrid complained to each other about the infrequency and insufficient amounts of Lied's most recent payments. 12 Madrid testified that on one occasion in late December of 1991, he saw Russell at the organization's warehouse in Forney, Texas. Russell was talking to several of the organization's Dallas-based employees and was aware that Madrid was unloading marijuana. According to Madrid, Russell's appearance at the warehouse coincided with a change in management in the organization whereby Lied broke off his ties to the organization and Russell took over Lied's role as distributor in the Dallas area. Madrid testified that Russell paid him approximately $20,000 or $30,000 for transporting marijuana on one occasion. 13 Madrid's active participation in the organization involving the Dallas Appellants concluded in April 1992 when he was arrested and later convicted on an unrelated charge. Madrid testified that the organization owed him approximately $250,000 in back pay at the time of his arrest. Madrid told his ex-wife, Gloria Stitt, that any money that he was owed would come from Russell and that she could keep whatever she could procure for their children. 14 Stitt, a paid governmental informant, enlisted the aid of her brother, Henry Garcia, to procure some of the money owed Madrid by the organization. Garcia wrote Madrid a letter in which Garcia stated that El Indio wants me to ask what you want done with your cake.... Madrid testified that El Indio was Russell's nickname and that cake was code for money in the organization. Madrid subsequently sent Stitt to pick up the money from Garcia. Garcia gave Stitt a box containing large denominations of cash totaling $60,000. Stitt turned the box and the money over to the government, and at trial she testified consistently with Madrid about these events. 15 From such evidence, the jury could rationally have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that each of the Dallas Appellants knowingly and voluntarily participated in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. The foregoing evidence was also sufficient to sustain the convictions of Lied and Russell for engaging in a conspiracy to launder money. Specifically, Madrid testified that he received large sums of drug money from Lied and delivered those proceeds to Gonzalez. Furthermore, significant evidence was presented that Russell transferred $60,000 in drug proceeds to Garcia as backpay for the work Madrid had done on behalf of the organization. See United States v. Flores, 63 F.3d 1342, 1361 (5th Cir.1995), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 87, 136 L.Ed.2d 43 (1996); United States v. Puig-Infante, 19 F.3d 929, 937-42 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 864, 115 S.Ct. 180, 130 L.Ed.2d 115 (1994).
16 The evidence to sustain convictions presented against Appellants Wallace and Pena-Rodriguez (collectively the Oklahoma Appellants) came primarily from the testimony of two co-conspirators and governmental informants, Clifford W. Mengers and Randall Bowers. Mengers testified that he was a professional truck driver and small-time drug dealer in Oklahoma. On one occasion, Wallace called Mengers and asked for his help in backing up a horse trailer near Wallace's garage. The horse trailer, which Mengers understood had come from El Paso, had Texas license plates and a hidden compartment that contained marijuana. Mengers testified that he observed Wallace and Jose Gomez remove marijuana from the trailer's hidden compartment. 3 17 Mengers also testified that Wallace told him on several occasions that Wallace was expecting to receive cocaine from a man named Arthur. Mengers testified that it was his understanding that Arthur was Appellant Pena-Rodriguez because Pena-Rodriguez was the only Arthur that Mengers knew. On one occasion, in fact, Mengers found several kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of Wallace's car, which was being stored in Mengers's garage. 18 Randall Bowers testified that in 1990, Jose Gomez and he drove a horse trailer containing 350 pounds of marijuana to Wallace's house. Bowers noted that both Wallace and Pena-Rodriguez helped Gomez and him unload the trailer. Bowers also testified that he delivered a load of marijuana to Pena-Rodriguez in early 1991. As compensation for his work, Pena-Rodriguez gave Bowers use of a fancy Chevrolet pickup truck known as the Boss. 19 The foregoing evidence was sufficient for a rational jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Wallace and Pena-Rodriguez knowingly and voluntarily participated in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine.
20 Appellant Gallegos was a part owner of the Truck Center of El Paso along with his brother, Art Gallegos, and Eduardo Gonzalez. According to the government's theory of the case, Gallegos's role in the organization consisted primarily of providing vehicles for the shipment of marijuana and cocaine, as well as constructing false fuel tanks that were used to store contraband during its transportation. Gallegos had the distinction of being the only appellant who was the subject of testimony by both of the government's star witnesses, Felipe Madrid, Jr. and Randall Bowers. 21 Bowers testified that he transported some false fuel tanks that were constructed in California to El Paso and gave them to Gallegos. When Bowers delivered the tanks, Gallegos told him that some of the other tanks used by the organization for smuggling had leaks in them. Gallegos knew this to be the case because he had tested the tanks with water and the tanks leaked. Gallegos expressed concern both that diesel fuel was leaking from the tanks onto the pavement and that fuel was entering into the compartment that stored contraband. Despite this quality control concern, Gallegos accepted the tanks from Bowers. 22 On another occasion, Bowers picked up a load of cocaine from Avelino Gil's house. Bowers met with Avelino and Norma Gil while waiting for his truck to be loaded. During the ensuing discussion, Gallegos entered the room and announced that it was ready. Bowers testified that he understood this statement to mean that the altered fuel tanks were ready. Bowers also testified that when Gallegos entered, he was covered with bondo dust. Other testimony in the record established that bondo was used to seal the false fuel tanks used by the organization after the tanks were filled with contraband. 23 Madrid testified that on one or two occasions, when Gonzalez was not available, Gallegos coordinated the pick up of a load of marijuana. Moreover, Gallegos was present when Madrid (on Lied's behalf) transferred $700,000 in drug money to Gonzalez, and Gallegos saw the suitcase that contained the money. Finally, on the day that Madrid was arrested, he had a number of calling cards in his possession. The names and numbers on these cards were in code, presumably to protect the subjects' identities. Madrid testified that one of these cards contained the coded names and phone numbers corresponding to Gallegos, Gil, and Gonzalez. 24 Again, this evidence was sufficient for a rational jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Gallegos knowingly and voluntarily participated in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute narcotics.