Opinion ID: 677661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of evidence: marijuana conspiracy (arturo & vidal)

Text: 4 Arturo and Vidal contend that there was insufficient evidence to support their convictions for a marijuana conspiracy from 1986 through May 22, 1992, as charged in count 2 of the indictment. They also claim that the Government established the existence of multiple conspiracies, as opposed to a single conspiracy. We reject both arguments. 5 If an indictment charges a single conspiracy, but the evidence reveals multiple conspiracies, the variance may be so prejudicial as to require reversal. United States v. Martin, 4 F.3d 757, 759 (9th Cir.1993). This issue is essentially a sufficiency of the evidence question. Id. In resolving this issue, we must make two inquiries: (1) whether the evidence supports the existence of an overall, single conspiracy, and if it does, (2) whether there is sufficient evidence to connect appellants to that conspiracy.
6 The test to determine whether there was a single conspiracy, as opposed to multiple conspiracies, is whether there was one overall agreement to perform various functions to achieve the objectives of the conspiracy. United States v. Arbelaez, 719 F.2d 1453, 1457 (9th Cir.1983) (internal quotations omitted), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1255 (1984). There are four relevant areas of inquiry in determining whether a single conspiracy exists: the nature of the scheme; the identity of the participants; the quality, frequency, and duration of each conspirator's transactions; and the commonality of times and goals. Id. at 1458 (internal quotations omitted). 7 After reviewing the transcript in this case, we conclude that the evidence adequately supports a finding that a single marijuana conspiracy existed from approximately 1986 through May 1992. See id. at 1457-58 (evidence need not exclude every hypothesis but that of single conspiracy; it is enough if record adequately supports such finding). 8 NATURE OF SCHEME: Arturo and Vidal were engaged in a scheme to distribute marijuana for profit. Duran and Reynoso both testified that they stored marijuana for the Beltrans in six different homes either in Tucson or Phoenix from 1987 through May 1992. Arturo, either alone or with the help of Vidal, would deliver the marijuana for Duran and Reynoso to keep and the Beltrans would then sell the marijuana. Arturo always paid Duran and Reynoso for their assistance. 9 IDENTITY OF PARTICIPANTS: Arturo was at the center of the scheme, supplying the marijuana to others for sale. The record indicates that Vidal was working closely with and at the direction of his father. Duran and Reynoso were also participants who kept the marijuana at various stash houses. 10 QUALITY, FREQUENCY, AND DURATION OF TRANSACTIONS: The evidence established that appellants were deeply involved in the marijuana conspiracy on a consistent basis from at least 1986 through May 1992, as the testimony of Quaill, Duran and Reynoso indicates. 1 11 COMMONALITY OF TIME AND GOALS: It was apparent that appellants' goal was to make money and they distributed marijuana on a consistent basis. 12 Finally, appellants' argument that the evidence established two separate conspiracies, one as to Duran and Reynoso and another as to the Rex Street residence, is without merit. These were not separate conspiracies. The evidence indicated that Duran and Reynoso were keeping about 108 pounds of marijuana at the Gangley Street residence for the Beltrans. At the same time, Banos was keeping about 530 pounds at the Rex Street residence for Arturo. Moreover, Aguilar testified that Arturo wanted him to deliver the marijuana located at the Rex Street residence to the Ganley Street residence. Arturo promised to pay Aguilar for his assistance, just as he always paid Duran and Reynoso to keep drugs. The evidence does not support a finding that these were two separate conspiracies. Rather, it supports the existence of one conspiracy orchestrated by Arturo who paid individuals for their separate roles in the overall scheme. Given the evidence, a rational jury could have concluded that appellants engaged in a single, overall conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
13 Evidence of even a slight connection, if proven beyond a reasonable doubt, is sufficient to convict a defendant of knowingly participating in an established conspiracy. United States v. Mares, 940 F.2d 455, 458 (9th Cir.1991). Moreover, such a connection may be inferred from circumstantial evidence. Id. It is sufficient to show that each defendant knew or had reason to know of the scope of the conspiracy and that each defendant had reason to believe that his own benefits were dependent upon the success of the entire venture. United States v. Brown, 912 F.2d 1040, 1043 (9th Cir.1990) (internal quotations and brackets omitted) (discussing standard for determining whether defendants are connected to single conspiracy and not multiple conspiracies). 14 The evidence sufficiently established appellants' connection to the conspiracy. The testimony of Duran and Reynoso puts to rest any question of the Beltrans' involvement in a marijuana conspiracy. Arturo was at the center of the conspiracy. He paid his co-conspirators, Duran and Reynoso, for keeping cocaine and marijuana at the stash houses. Arturo informed Duran as to the identities of individuals who would be purchasing drugs and he instructed Duran to deliver the drug money to him. 15 Vidal was also deeply involved in the conspiracy. He assisted in deliveries to the various stash houses and expressed an interest in purchasing marijuana from Aguilar. He attended meetings with his father concerning drug transactions. Specifically, Vidal argues that his mere proximity to the scene of the crime is insufficient to connect him to the conspiracy. Although he is correct in asserting that mere proximity is insufficient to establish the connection, see Mares, 940 F.2d at 458, Vidal was not merely in close proximity to the drug conspiracy. Rather, the evidence indicates that he was an active participant. 16 Quaill testified that when he contacted Arturo about the possibility of obtaining marijuana from him in 1986 or 1987, both Vidal and Arturo discussed the deal with him. Eventually, the Beltrans sold Quaill 300 pounds of marijuana. Duran testified that Vidal consistently helped his father in selling the marijuana that he and Reynoso kept from 1987 through 1992. Unaware that the Rex Street marijuana was his father's, Vidal expressed an interest in purchasing that marijuana when Aguilar told him about it. Vidal even took some of that marijuana to check it out. Aguilar testified that Vidal told him that they were using the Ganley Street residence to store marijuana. Aguilar also testified that he knew Vidal was involved in selling marijuana because Vidal once told him that Vidal's family was operating very nicely in trafficking marijuana. 17 Vidal was consistently involved at every stage of this conspiracy. He was more than merely present while the conspiracy was ongoing. Moreover, acts that otherwise appear innocent, when viewed in context, may support an inference of guilt. Mares, 940 F.2d at 458. The evidence was sufficient to establish both Arturo's and Vidal's connection. 18