Opinion ID: 540010
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Efrain Arcelay.

Text: 69 Arcelay also contends that the evidence was insufficient to convict him under count one for narcotics conspiracy. He acknowledges that he was the roommate and a close friend of Flores during the period covered by the investigation, and also admits to having been a cocaine dealer. Arcelay claims, however, that the government failed to establish that he was involved in the heroin conspiracy charged, because he lacked the specific intent to advance the conspiracy to sell heroin, but rather acted solely as a roommate and friend of Flores. 70 In support of this claim, Arcelay refers to conversations intercepted by the government between Arcelay and Flores in which Flores assured Arcelay that Arcelay was not under police surveillance. Arcelay contends that Flores knew or suspected that Flores was then under surveillance, and that Flores' lack of concern over surveillance of Arcelay is consistent with Arcelay's claim that Flores did not consider Arcelay a part of the heroin conspiracy. Arcelay also points out that several of the rolodexes seized by the police which listed many members of the Torres Organization did not include Arcelay's name, giving further credence to his claim that he was not a member of the conspiracy. 71 On the other hand, the government contends that Arcelay, who had a full-time job at a local hospital, while not a full-time employee of the Torres organization, was nonetheless allied with the Torres organization and could be counted on to assist it when needed. At trial, the government established that Arcelay allowed V. Torres to purchase and register a car in Arcelay's name, and that this car was used to transport drug proceeds by the Torres Organization. On another occasion, Arcelay allowed Flores to use his name as a reference when Flores purchased a car and when he opened a safe deposit box. On still another occasion, Arcelay cancelled a lease and returned a key to a landlord for an apartment in Queens used by the Torres Organization. Finally, the government also presented evidence that Arcelay frequently relayed messages for Flores to other members of the Organization, and on one occasion assisted Flores in locating a worker for a special assignment. 72 In view of Arcelay's conceded knowledge of the existence, purpose and operations of the conspiracy, the foregoing evidence sufficed to establish demonstrated awareness of [the] conspiracy's existence coupled with his active participation. United States v. Torres, 519 F.2d 723, 726 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1019, 96 S.Ct. 457, 46 L.Ed.2d 392 (1975). As the government correctly contends, once this was shown, Arcelay's claim that his participation was motivated by friendship with Flores is irrelevant to the question of Arcelay's criminal liability. See United States v. Bagaric, 706 F.2d 42, 53 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 840, 917, 104 S.Ct. 133, 134, 283, 78 L.Ed.2d 128, 261 (1983). 73