Opinion ID: 547523
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 23 Helish also claims that the evidence presented by the government was insufficient to support the convictions for possession in July and August and for conspiracy. When reviewing appeals on this ground we examine the evidence presented at trial in the light most favorable to the government, giving it the benefit of all reasonable inferences, and will reverse only if we find that a reasonable jury could not have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the alleged offense. United States v. Bennett, 908 F.2d 189, 196 (7th Cir.1990). 24 The government's reluctance to concede that there was a variance between its indictment and its evidence invited this argument. The government contends that, notwithstanding the actual delivery dates, its evidence is sufficient to show that Helish had constructive possession of the second and third deliveries of marijuana (i.e. 3800 pounds of marijuana) in July and August. But it presented no evidence of Helish's inventory of marijuana during those months; the fact that he returned 1200 pounds in October is not sufficient evidence to prove that he had possession of an 1800 pound shipment in July or a 2000 pound shipment (as opposed to a 1200 pound shipment) in August. Compare United States v. Williams, 798 F.2d 1024, 1035 (7th Cir.1986) (evidence that defendant had possession of three pounds of methamphetamine in mid-April held to be the least possible amount of evidence sufficient to sustain conviction for possession of three pounds of methamphetamine in or about March). 25 Nevertheless, we do not agree that there was insufficient evidence to support Helish's convictions for possession with intent to distribute in counts 6 and 7. Helish contends that there was absolutely no evidence presented to support his conviction for possession of the 1800 pound shipment of marijuana in July or the 2000 pound shipment in August. This argument merely repeats his variance argument: because the government's proof indicated that the deliveries were made in April and May, there was no evidence that he possessed the marijuana cited in counts 6 and 7 in July and August. As we have stated, however, that variance is not fatal to the government's charge; if the government presented sufficient evidence to convict Helish of possession of the stated quantities of marijuana, the convictions are valid despite the variance in the dates of possession. 26 The government presented more than enough evidence to satisfy its burden of proving that Helish took control of the quantities of marijuana alleged in the indictment. When approached by Richard Aaron, Helish agreed to purchase marijuana from the Heilbrunn organization. Aaron received three deliveries of marijuana at his home. Helish went to Indiana to inspect the first shipment and had it transported to Florida. Shortly thereafter he gave Aaron approximately $100,000 in a PVC pipe as front money for the drugs. Helish did not inspect the second and third shipments, but arranged to have them picked up from Aaron's home each time. Helish made regular payments of between $50,000 and $100,000 to Aaron until October of 1985, when he returned approximately 1,200 pounds of marijuana to Aaron in Indiana. This evidence amply supports the jury's conclusion that Helish took possession of 5500 pounds of marijuana with an intent to distribute it. 27 Helish's conviction for conspiring with the Heilbrunn organization presents a closer question. [W]hen the sufficiency of the evidence to connect a particular defendant to a conspiracy is challenged on appeal, we must find substantial evidence in the record of the defendant's participation in the conspiracy. 6 United States v. Durrive, 902 F.2d 1221, 1229 (7th Cir.1990). Helish contends that there is no evidence of his participation; at most, he claims, the government's evidence establishes only that Helish purchased marijuana from the Heilbrunn organization. The government argues that Helish's ongoing business relationship with Aaron, his acquaintance with Stocksdale and Bernstein, and his role as a distributor distinguish him from a mere buyer and are sufficient to infer that Helish had agreed to join the Heilbrunn conspiracy. 28 We agree. To prove that a defendant was a member of a conspiracy the government must present sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the defendant knew of the conspiracy and that he intended to join and associate himself with its criminal design and purpose. United States v. Anderson, 896 F.2d 1076, 1078-79 (7th Cir.1990); United States v. Adamo, 882 F.2d 1218, 1223 (7th Cir.1989); United States v. Vega, 860 F.2d 779, 792 (7th Cir.1988). Our cases make clear that merely purchasing drugs or other property from a conspiracy, standing alone, can never establish membership in the conspiracy. United States v. Douglas, 818 F.2d 1317, 1321 (7th Cir.1987) (citing cases). Nevertheless, one who buys from a conspirator for resale is a member of the conspiracy if he knows at least its general aims.... United States v. Marks, 816 F.2d 1207, 1212 (7th Cir.1987); see also United States v. Roth, 777 F.2d 1200, 1205 (7th Cir.1985) (while the ultimate consumer is not himself a conspirator ... the middleman is); United States v. Andrus, 775 F.2d 825, 853-54 (7th Cir.1985) (evidence that cocaine purchaser resold cocaine purchased from conspirator sufficient to support conclusion that purchaser joined the distribution conspiracy). 29 Moreover, Helish's dealings with Aaron suggest a close working relationship that belies his claim that he was unaware of the conspiracy. See United States v. Liefer, 778 F.2d 1236, 1247 n. 9 (7th Cir.1985) (evidence that conspirator delivered marijuana to defendant to store on his farm held sufficient to connect defendant to the conspiracy). The evidence established that Helish dealt continuously with Aaron throughout the spring and summer of 1985. His purchases were not discrete transactions requiring limited contact with the conspiracy; rather, they required an ongoing relationship that soured only when Helish failed to move the marijuana fast enough to satisfy Bernstein. At that point, Bernstein pressured Aaron to force Helish to increase his sales; Aaron testified that he told Helish that his superiors wanted sales to increase or Helish to return the unsold marijuana. Finally, the quantity of marijuana alone was sufficient to put Helish on notice that Aaron was working for a large drug distribution operation. [I]f each [defendant retailer] knew, or had reason to know, that other retailers were involved ... in a broad project for the smuggling, distribution and retail sale of narcotics, and had reason to believe that their own benefits derived from the operation were probably dependent upon the success of the entire venture, the jury could find that each had, in effect, agreed to participate in the over-all scheme. United States v. Grier, 866 F.2d 908, 924 (7th Cir.1989); United States v. Cerro, 775 F.2d 908, 911 (7th Cir.1985) (quoting United States v. Baxter, 492 F.2d 150, 158 (9th Cir.1973)). It was also sufficient to show Helish's intent to assist that distribution. Cf. Roth, 777 F.2d at 1205 (acknowledging government's belief that distribution conspiracy existed on basis of large quantity of drugs purchased by suspect). Compare United States v. Garrett, 903 F.2d 1105, 1113 (7th Cir.1990) (small quantity of drugs, standing alone, insufficient to support conviction for possession with intent to distribute). 30 This evidence is sufficient to establish that Helish knew that Aaron was a member of a large scale drug distribution ring and that he agreed to participate in its activities. Helish complains that there is no evidence that he knew, or had any dealings with, other members of the conspiracy. The evidence actually indicated, however, that Helish had known Bernstein for some time and had met Stocksdale on at least one occasion. More importantly, however, acquaintance with each member of a conspiracy is not a prerequisite to membership in the conspiracy. While the parties to the agreement must know that others are participating in the conspiracy, they neither have to personally know the individuals involved nor do they have to participate in every facet of the conspiracy scheme. Adamo, 882 F.2d at 1224 (quoting United States v. Noble, 754 F.2d 1324, 1329 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 818, 106 S.Ct. 63, 88 L.Ed.2d 51 (1985)); United States v. Percival, 756 F.2d 600, 607 (7th Cir.1985); United States v. Varelli, 407 F.2d 735, 742 (7th Cir.1969). Indeed, mere acquaintance with conspirators is an insufficient basis for inferring membership in the conspiracy. Percival, 756 F.2d at 610.