Opinion ID: 450722
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 18 Appellant contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. The principles governing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence are well-settled: the defendant making the insufficiency claim bears a very heavy burden, United States v. Soto, 716 F.2d 989, 991 (2d Cir.1983); [t]he verdict of a jury must be sustained if there is substantial evidence ... to support it ; Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942), and we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, id. The jury must have a full opportunity to determine credibility, weigh the evidence, and draw justifiable inferences of fact, United States v. Taylor, 464 F.2d 240, 243 (2d Cir.1972); and all permissible inferences must be construed in favor of the government. United States v. Young, 745 F.2d 733, 762 (2d Cir.1984); United States v. Bagaric, 706 F.2d 42, 64 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 104 S.Ct. 133, 283, 78 L.Ed.2d 128 (1983); United States v. Dazzo, 672 F.2d 284, 288 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 836, 103 S.Ct. 81, 74 L.Ed.2d 77 (1982). 19 It is also settled that the existence of a conspiracy, and a defendant's membership in it, may be proved entirely by circumstantial evidence, United States v. Soto, 716 F.2d at 991. Yet, as appellant asserts, this Court has held that absent evidence of purposeful behavior, mere presence at the scene of a crime, even when coupled with knowledge that a crime is being committed, is insufficient to establish membership in a conspiracy; and mere association with conspirators is similarly insufficient. United States v. Pedroza, 750 F.2d 187, 198 (2d Cir.1984); United States v. Johnson, 513 F.2d 819, 823-24 (2d Cir.1975). There must be some evidence that the defendant has associat[ed] himself with the venture in some fashion, 'participat[ed] in it as something that he wish[ed] to bring about,' or '[sought] by his action to make it succeed.'  United States v. Johnson, 513 F.2d at 823 (quoting United States v. Peoni, 100 F.2d 401, 402 (2d Cir.1938)). 20 Assessed singly, or even in combination with several others, the events herein involving Martino could be perceived as mere presence or mere association on his part. We must, however, view the events as a whole. Pieces of evidence must be viewed not in isolation but in conjunction. United States v. Young, 745 F.2d 733, 762 (2d Cir.1984) (quoting United States v. Carson, 702 F.2d 351, 362 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 462 U.S. 1108, 103 S.Ct. 2456, 77 L.Ed.2d 1335 (1983)). Viewing the events in this manner, we are presented with a different picture. Among the principal events in evidence relating to appellant are: 21 1. On July 31, 1983, Butchy stated to Mattio that, as a last resort he could sell the drugs to some guys on Buhre Avenue. Martino previously had owned and worked in a beauty salon on Buhre Avenue and in 1983 he was frequently seen hanging out there and nearby. 22 2. On August 8, 1984, in response to Mattio's insistence that they be absolutely sure there was money available to close the drug deal, Ruggiero left and was supposed to come with ... the person who had the money. Shortly afterward, while Butchy and Mattio talked, Ruggiero rode by in a car, and Butchy observed. There they go now. It was too dark to see who was in the car with Ruggiero. Minutes later, Ruggiero was observed walking in the vicinity with Martino for about ten minutes apparently engaged in conversation. 23 3. Ruggiero, a participant in the planned heroin transaction, joined Martino on the morning of August 10, 1983 (the date of the transaction), and together they went to DeSimone's house in the Bronx where Martino borrowed DeSimone's 1967 gray Chevrolet. 24 4. That same day, at noon, Martino arrived at the time and place pre-arranged for the drug transaction--the Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Queens. 25 5. Martino remained parked adjacent to drug-buyer Scarvalone while each facet of the transaction occurred--Scarvalone and Martino were observed looking to the rear of their respective vehicles, apparently watching Ruggiero's movements as the exchange of money and drugs 2 took place. 26 6. When arrested, Martino was seated in the Chevrolet with the engine running; he falsely stated he was at the parking lot waiting for his wife while she shopped at the Grand Union. 27 7. Martino later changed his statement and said that he was there with his girlfriend, Carol DeLuca, from the Bronx. Ms. DeLuca testified that she knew Martino but had never been at that shopping center with him. 28 At a trial, it is the function of a jury to determine the facts from the evidence presented, and it is also their function to draw reasonable inferences from the facts which they find. From the evidence presented herein, we conclude that the jury could determine that a conspiracy to traffic in narcotics existed as charged and that the appellant was no mere bystander but was a member of that conspiracy. See United States v. Diez, 736 F.2d 840, 843 (2d Cir.1984). 29 It is elementary that each member of a conspiracy need not know all of the details concerning the unlawful agreement, United States v. Gleason, 616 F.2d 2, 16 (2d Cir.1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1082, 100 S.Ct. 1037, 62 L.Ed.2d 767, 445 U.S. 931, 100 S.Ct. 1320, 63 L.Ed.2d 764 (1980); United States v. Bobo, 586 F.2d 355, 370 n. 20 (5th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 976, 99 S.Ct. 1546, 59 L.Ed.2d 795 (1979); United States v. Anthony, 565 F.2d 533, 539 (8th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1079, 98 S.Ct. 1274, 55 L.Ed.2d 787 (1978), nor need the conspiracy come to a successful conclusion. See Iannelli v. United States, 420 U.S. 770, 777-79, 95 S.Ct. 1284, 1289-90, 43 L.Ed.2d 616 (1975); United States v. Villarreal, 546 F.2d 1145, 1146 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 917, 97 S.Ct. 2181, 53 L.Ed.2d 228 (1977); United States v. Agueci, 310 F.2d 817, 828 (2d Cir.1962), cert. denied, 372 U.S. 959, 83 S.Ct. 1013, 10 L.Ed.2d 11 (1963); United States v. McKnight, 439 F.Supp. 536, 539 (E.D.Pa.1977). It is the unlawful agreement itself which constitutes the crime. Iannelli v. United States, 420 U.S. at 777, 95 S.Ct. at 1289; United States v. Marable, 578 F.2d 151, 153 (5th Cir.1978) (quoting Braverman v. United States, 317 U.S. 49, 53, 63 S.Ct. 99, 101, 87 L.Ed. 23 (1942)); United States v. Nuccio, 373 F.2d 168, 174 & n. 4 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 387 U.S. 906, 87 S.Ct. 1688, 18 L.Ed.2d 623 (1967); United States v. Agueci, 310 F.2d at 828; United States v. McKnight, 439 F.Supp. at 539. As previously stated, the crime of conspiracy can be proved entirely through circumstantial evidence. United States v. Soto, 716 F.2d at 991; United States v. Turcotte, 515 F.2d 145, 150 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1032, 96 S.Ct. 564, 46 L.Ed.2d 406 (1975). 30 Defense counsel argued to the jury in summation that appellant was only coincidentally present on the several occasions described above and that the evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Martino had joined in the unlawful agreement charged in the indictment. The government argued to the contrary. It is apparent that the jury accepted the government's interpretation of the significance of the evidence. We hold there was sufficient evidence to warrant the jury's conclusion of Martino's guilt. Based upon the entire series of activities which occurred herein, including some events seemingly innocent if not viewed in context, the jury had sufficient evidence upon which to accept the government's theory and to conclude that, since Scarvalone was only purchasing one-half of the available heroin, the other half was destined for another customer and that Martino was that customer. The jury was entitled to conclude that Martino participated in a scheme to purchase and subsequently sell one kilogram of heroin, divided into two one-half kilo packages--one of which was actually delivered to Scarvalone. The fact that the aim of the conspiracy charged was not achieved fully is not at all fatal to the conclusion that a conspiracy existed and that Martino was a member in it.