Opinion ID: 778658
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Sufficiency of the evidence to support the defendants' convictions

Text: 84 In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we must determine whether a rational jury could have found that the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on each element of the offense, drawing all reasonable inferences from the evidence and viewing all credibility determinations in the light most favorable to the verdict. 78 We do not evaluate the weight of the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. 79
85 To sustain a conviction for conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 841, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt: `(1) the existence of an agreement between two or more persons to violate narcotics law; (2) the defendant's knowledge of the agreement; and (3) the defendant's voluntary participation in the agreement.' 80 It is well-settled that [a] jury may infer these elements from circumstantial evidence. 81 86 Jose Solis, Pineda, Favela, Hilario Solis, and Mendez argue that the evidence is insufficient to support their convictions for conspiracy under Count 1 of the indictment. 82 The extensive evidence contained in the record and marshaled in the government's brief, however, affirms that these challenges are meritless. Thus, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the government, adequately supports the jury's findings beyond a reasonable doubt that there was an agreement between two or more persons to distribute heroin and cocaine, that each of these defendants knew of the agreement, and that each voluntarily participated. 83
87 Jose Solis, Pineda, Favela, Hilario Solis, and Mendez, however, also challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support their convictions for several substantive counts of the indictment. We have recently summarized the requirements for the government to prevail on a charge of a substantive violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1): The essential elements of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 are 1) knowledge, 2) possession, and 3) intent to distribute the controlled substances. 84 88 The government notes that the defendants can, in the absence of direct personal involvement, be held liable for the substantive counts charged against them based on Pinkerton liability. 85 A party to a continuing conspiracy may be criminally liable for a substantive offense committed by a co-conspirator in furtherance of the conspiracy, even though the party does not participate in the substantive offense, or have any knowledge of it. 86 The government also correctly notes that the jury was instructed on a Pinkerton theory of liability as is required. 87 89 We have further held, however, that [a] party to a conspiracy may be held criminally responsible for a substantive offense committed by a coconspirator in furtherance of the conspiracy [only] if the offense was reasonably foreseeable and was committed during that party's membership in the conspiracy. 88 Distribution and possession with intent to distribute offenses are reasonably foreseeable acts in furtherance of a conspiracy to distribute drugs. 89 90 Our review of the record convinces us that, with the exception of Pineda's challenge to his convictions for Counts 6 and 9, these defendants' arguments as to sufficiency of the evidence under the substantive counts charged against them are without merit based on the evidence presented at trial and, insofar as the defendants claim to have had no personal involvement in any particular drug transaction, on the basis of Pinkerton liability. Even drawing all reasonable inferences from the evidence and viewing all credibility determinations in the light most favorable to the verdict, however, we conclude that there was no evidence of personal involvement by Pineda in the transactions charged in Counts 6 and 9, as the government itself admitted at trial. Furthermore, the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to allow a reasonable jury to conclude that Pineda was a member of the conspiracy at a time prior to August 1997 and therefore at the time of the transactions on June 8, 1997 (Count 6) and July 23, 1997 (Count 9) so as to support Pineda's convictions of Counts 6 and 9 under a Pinkerton theory.
91 We affirm the district court's denial of the motions for acquittal of Jose Solis, Favela, Hilario Solis, and Mendez and of Pineda as to Counts 1, 12, 14-15, 18-25, and 27-28, but we reverse Pineda's conviction on Counts 6 and 9, vacate his life sentences as to Counts 6 and 9, and remand for entry of a judgment of acquittal on these counts and resentencing, if necessary.