Opinion ID: 70109
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Reddick—Sufficiency of the Evidence

Text: The indictment named Reddick as an aider and abettor who willfully assisted Ricky Jivens in the conspiracy by serving as his nominee. He was also charged with a single substantive money laundering violation by knowingly becoming the lessee of record on property located at 102 Chowning Drive in Savannah to conceal Jivens' interest. Reddick contends that the Government's evidence at trial was insufficient to support his convictions on both counts. We agree.
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court is limited to inquiring whether, construing the evidence and drawing all inferences and credibility choices in the Government's favor, any reasonable jury could have found the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); United States v. Van Hemelryck, 945 F.2d 1493, 1499 (11th Cir.1991).
To support a conviction for conspiracy, the Government must prove that a conspiracy existed, that the defendant had knowledge of the essential aims of the conspiracy, and that with such knowledge, the defendant joined the conspiracy. United States v. Blasco, 702 F.2d 1315, 1330 (11th Cir.1983). To be guilty of aiding and abetting a conspiracy, a defendant need only associate himself with the crime, participate in it as something he wishes to bring about, and seek by his actions to make it succeed. United States v. Pepe, 747 F.2d 632, 665 (11th Cir.1984). An aiding and abetting offense occurs when a defendant assists the perpetrator of the crime while sharing in the requisite criminal intent. United States v. Martinez, 555 F.2d 1269, 1271 (5th Cir.1977). On the money laundering count, the Government must show that the willful aiding and abetting are acts that are integral and important to the successful operation of a drug conspiracy. United States v. Perez, 922 F.2d 782, 786 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1223, 111 S.Ct. 2840, 115 L.Ed.2d 1009 (1991). Government evidence consisted chiefly of the testimony of two witnesses, David Smith, the leasing agent, and Chris Cochran, a mutual acquaintance of both Jivens and Reddick. Smith testified that Reddick leased the Chowning Drive house from him in November 1990 for twelve months at $675.00 per month. The Government presented evidence showing that Reddick provided false written statements to the leasing agent, indicating that he intended to live there with his wife and two children. On the lease, Reddick listed his current address as 3211 Martha Street. Smith, the agent, testified that he made one visit to the Chowning Drive house during the lease period. At that time he was met at the door by a young lady with a baby. The Government contends that the jury inferred this was Danielle Jones and her child by Ricky Jivens. Cochran testified that Jivens first asked him to rent the house and he agreed. When Cochran couldn't pass the requisite credit check, Cochran testified that Jivens, in Cochran's presence, then asked Reddick to rent the house for him and Reddick agreed. Reddick contends, and the Government does not dispute, that Jivens needed to rent a house in which his girlfriend could live so that his wife, Renee, would not find out. Reddick claims that the evidence did not show a criminal intent, but merely an intent to do a favor for a friend. The Government introduced physical evidence that within the lease period Reddick also rented a boat slip and listed Martha Street as his residence address. A warranty deed indicated that Reddick owned the home at Martha Street. Government exhibit 29a was a $3,000 money order from John Brown to Levon Bazemore, found in a car that also contained an automobile service bill in the name of Grady Reddick. The Government argues that the same evidence establishes Reddick's guilt on both counts. We disagree. As to the money laundering count, the record shows that Reddick executed the lease to conceal the identity of the lessee. However, there is no evidence that indicates Reddick concealed or disguised the source of the rental payments. The record fails to show that Reddick knew that Jivens' money was obtained through illegal means or that Reddick profited from the transaction in any way. The lease of the house as a place of abode for Jivens' girlfriend was not connected by any evidence to drug violations. Similarly there was insufficient evidence on the conspiracy count to prove that Reddick participated in any of the acts of murder, narcotics trafficking or turf warfare. No evidence showed that he associated with any gang member other than Ricky Jivens himself. No evidence showed that he got down, took drugs, bought drugs, or sold drugs. No evidence showed that Reddick knew of the drug conspiracy or agreed through any act to become a member or to aid and abet a member. The Government argues that it was readily inferable that Reddick was an aider and abettor to the conspiracy because he was in close association with Ricky Jivens. It is not enough that Reddick knew Jivens. It is not enough that Reddick leased a house for Jivens. Association with a coconspirator is insufficient to prove participation in a conspiracy. United States v. Kelly, 749 F.2d 1541 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 472 U.S. 1029, 105 S.Ct. 3506, 87 L.Ed.2d 636 (1985). At a minimum, the defendant must willfully associate himself in some way with the criminal venture and willfully participate in it as he would in something he wished to bring about. United States v. Hernandez, 896 F.2d 513 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 858, 111 S.Ct. 159, 112 L.Ed.2d 125 (1990). We conclude that the Government's evidence was insufficient to convict Reddick under either count and we reverse his convictions.