Opinion ID: 22977
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Maldonado's Bribery Convictions

Text: 70 Maldonado argues that there is insufficient evidence to uphold the first of her two convictions for federal programs bribery, 9 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(2), and her conviction for conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, 18 U.S.C. § 371. Specifically, Maldonado argues that the evidence is insufficient to conclude that she intended to assist in the January 24 bribery of Councilman Yarbrough or that she reached an agreement with anyone besides a government agent to commit bribery. Again, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and may reverse only if no rational jury could have found each element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Greer, 137 F.3d at 249. 71 There is more than sufficient evidence to conclude that Maldonado possessed the requisite mental state with respect to the bribery of Councilman Yarbrough. To convict under § 666(a)(2), the jury must find that the defendant acted with intent to influence or reward a government agent. See 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(2). The evidence was that Maldonado worked for the Cayman Group for more than a month before the Yarbrough payment occurred, from December 21 to January 24. The evidence from that time, among other things, shows the following: that Torres revealed to Maldonado that then-councilman Reyes was being paid to secure a spot for the Cayman Group in the city's hotel project (Dec. 21); that Dogium told Maldonado that a payment had already been made to Yarbrough (Jan. 17); that Maldonado explained that some council members expected compensation for their votes (Jan. 17); that she said that she dealt with most council members on a very up-and-up basis but that with Yarbrough she can get away with more because he and I are friends (Jan. 22); and that Maldonado said that the reason Yarbrough was reticent to declare his support for the Duddlesten plan is that he wanted to see how much he can get out of the deal--that's his style (Jan. 22). Then, from the day of the January 24 meeting with Yarbrough, the evidence shows that Maldonado understood that her role with the Cayman Group had evolved--[I]t's a different deal than when I started. You want me to do a lot more.--and that she said that they ought to have cash on hand for Yarbrough because with him, it'd probably never hurt. And while Yarbrough and Dogium met on the 24th, Maldonado said that Yarbrough told her he too wanted to profit from the hotel project ([H]e sees everybody getting rich, and what about him?). 10 Based on the foregoing evidence, a rational jury could conclude that Maldonado knew the Cayman Group was engaged in the bribery of public officials and that, by arranging the January 24 meeting with Yarbrough, Maldonado intended to facilitate such bribery. 72 Maldonado contends that she had intended to arrange for Yarbrough to receive a lawful campaign contribution and that she did not know that the Cayman Group planned to make an illegal cash payment. In support of her argument, Maldonado notes that the work that she was hired for--public relations and lobbying--was indisputably lawful. Maldonado also points to evidence of a December 21 conversation Reyes had with Molineiro, wherein the two agreed to treat Maldonado as if she were going to do P.R. work for us now. Testimony shows, however, that within hours after the Reyes-Molineiro conversation occurred, Torres over lunch candidly told Maldonado that Reyes was on the Cayman Group's payroll. The jury also heard evidence that at the time of Torres's disclosure Reyes was still a member of the city council, and that the Cayman Group--as Maldonado well knew--was actively seeking a place in the city's hotel project. Although Maldonado testified that Torres never made such a disclosure, the jury, as arbiter of credibility, could have chosen to believe Torres instead. 73 Other evidence Maldonado relies upon is also subject to contradiction. Maldonado notes that in her conversations with Molineiro and Dogium, the two used ambiguous terms like help, influence, and personal assurances to describe cash payments the Cayman Group made or planned to make to council members. At trial, Maldonado argued that the use of such language led her to conclude that Molineiro and Dogium were referring to lawful campaign contributions. Maldonado also argues that since Dogium and Yarbrough met in private January 24 she did not have direct knowledge of what Doguim and Yarbrough discussed or that Yarbrough received a cash payment. As detailed above, however, there is evidence upon which the jury could rely to find that Maldonado learned of the Cayman Group's illegal activity soon after she was hired or, in any event, before Councilman Yarbrough was bribed January 24. 74 Likewise, the evidence is sufficient to uphold Maldonado's conviction for conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. Conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371 requires an agreement between two or more people to commit a federal crime and an act by one of the conspirators in furtherance of that agreement. See United States v. Jobe, 101 F.3d 1046, 1063 (5th Cir. 1996). [A] government agent cannot be a co-conspirator and . . . there can be no conspiracy between one defendant and a government informer. United States v. Manotas-Mejia, 824 F.2d 360, 365 (5th Cir. 1987). Maldonado argues that there is insufficient evidence to find that she agreed with anyone other than Molineiro or Dogium to commit bribery. We disagree. 75 From the evidence adduced at trial, a rational jury could conclude that there was an unlawful agreement between Maldonado and, among others, Reyes, Torres, and Allyn. A conspiracy agreement may be tacit, and the trier of fact may infer [an] agreement from circumstantial evidence. United States v. Hernandez-Palacios, 838 F.2d 1346, 1348 (5th Cir. 1988). Based on the evidence, the jury could infer that sometime before Maldonado met with Molineiro and Reyes December 21, Reyes and Allyn briefed her on the Cayman Group, the Duddlesten plan, and the hotel project generally. Maldonado, Reyes, and Allyn were longtime friends. Immediately upon her arrival at the December 21 meeting, Reyes handed Maldonado $1500 cash. Later that day, Isasis Torres, who also was a close friend of Maldonado's, joined her and Reyes for lunch. The evidence from that lunch meeting shows that Torres revealed that Reyes was on the Cayman Group's payroll; Torres asked Maldonado to keep this information secret and she agreed. The evidence of these meetings, in light of that of her illegal acts during the days that followed, would allow a rational jury to conclude that Maldonado agreed to participate in a bribery scheme with someone other than a government agent. 76 Additionally, the record would allow the jury to infer an unlawful agreement arose from Maldonado's meeting with Reyes sometime in early April. By the time of the meeting, Reyes's role with the Cayman Group had been substantially lessened; before Maldonado would agree to continue with the Cayman Group, she told Dogium and Molineiro that she wanted Reyes's approval. On April 12, Maldonado reported that Reyes had given his consent. Thereafter, as described above, Maldonado's statements and conduct lacked little or no pretext regarding the legitmacy of her work for the Cayman Group. Again, from this evidence, and in light of the evidence of her conduct that followed the April meeting with Reyes, the jury could reasonably infer that Maldonado agreed with one or more persons--none of whom worked for the government--to unlawfully influence city officials.