Opinion ID: 754758
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence Supporting Riley's Conspiracy

Text: Conviction 28 Defendant Riley challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction on count one of the indictment, which charged him under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 with conspiring to distribute controlled substances and to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute. Under Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), we review Riley's challenge to determine whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. To prove guilt on the drug conspiracy charge, the Government bore the burden of proving the existence of an agreement to violate the drug laws and that each conspirator knew of, intended to join, and participated in the conspiracy. United States v. Lee, 991 F.2d 343, 348 (6th Cir.1993). Moreover, once the existence of a conspiracy has been proven, only slight evidence is necessary to implicate a defendant. Id. 29 Defendant Riley argues that the Government failed to prove that he joined the conspiracy in this case. His argument fails. The evidence at trial included testimony from co-conspirator Harlan Gibbs that Riley worked within Key's organization by processing and delivering heroin. Wiretap evidence corroborated Riley's participation in the conspiracy. Riley rented the East Larned apartment from which Key and Riley ran their portion of the drug processing and distribution operation. In sum, there was more than enough evidence for a rational juror to conclude that Riley knew of, intended to join, and participated in the drug conspiracy. 30