Opinion ID: 733238
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence Against Thomas

Text: 25 Thomas argues that there was insufficient evidence that he was involved in the conspiracy and that he possessed the heroin that was found in his car. Thomas claims that he simply came on the scene in order to speak with his brother-in-law, appellant Hawkins; he stayed in the car in order to keep warm, not for any illicit purpose. Furthermore, he says, there was no evidence that he, rather than his passenger, possessed the drugs that were in the car. Indeed, Thomas seems to think it helpful to his case that the drugs were concealed behind a notepad and a visor rather than in plain view (the drugs could just as readily have been under the control of the front seat passenger who exited the car to make way for Green), even though the visor was on the driver's side of the car. 26 Thomas relies upon several cases in which a defendant's mere presence on the scene has been held insufficient to establish his possession of an item found there. See, e.g., United States v. Johnson, 952 F.2d 1407, 1411-12 (D.C.Cir.1992). He also contends that expert testimony to the effect that drug dealers are typically resupplied at intervals during the night should not have been permitted to fill this putative evidentiary gap. 27 First, we do not agree that the testimony of the Government's expert witness filled an evidentiary gap; rather, the expert supported the Government's explanation of the defendants' behavior following Thomas's arrival on the scene, viz., that Thomas was resupplying Green and Hawkins with drugs. 28 Second, we note that the cases from which Thomas has sought support for his argument all involved situations in which the defendant had at best tenuous control over the premises where the contraband was found. In Johnson, for example, we reversed the conviction of a defendant who was found in an apartment not his own, in which drugs and a gun were also discovered. The testimony of an expert witness to the effect that a drug dealer would never let an outsider get near his stash was insufficient by itself to establish the defendant's possession of the drugs discovered in the apartment. Johnson, 952 F.2d at 1411-12. 29 In the case now before us, in contrast, there was ample evidence suggesting that Thomas knew of, and was in a position to exercise dominion and control over, the contraband. United States v. Byfield, 928 F.2d 1163, 1166 (D.C.Cir.1991). Thomas was driving the car in which the drugs were found. The drugs were within arm's reach--indeed, behind the visor on his side of the car. Although it is conceivable that someone else might have possessed the drugs, the jury could reasonably conclude, as it did, that the drugs were in Thomas's possession. 30 Finally, the evidence supports Thomas's role in the on-going conspiracy to distribute the drugs. In addition to possessing the drugs, Thomas drove the car and its illicit contents to the scene of the drug trafficking. Hawkins and Green immediately approached Thomas's car. Although Thomas had a familial relationship with Hawkins and claims that he came to talk with Hawkins, it was Green who got into the car with Thomas. Moreover, chemical analysis revealed that the drugs found in Thomas's car bore a striking similarity in quality to the drugs found in the stash at the scene of the transactions. 31 In sum, there was adequate evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude that [322 U.S.App.D.C. 399] Thomas was part of the on-going conspiracy to distribute drugs in front of 9010 Ninth Street, N.W. We therefore affirm Thomas's conviction in all respects.