Opinion ID: 47920
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Wren

Text: 22 Wren argues that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt each element of a continuing criminal enterprise. We hold that the evidence of Wren's organizing, supervising, or managing five or more persons in the drug trade was insufficient to support his conviction for continuing criminal enterprise. 23 Evidence regarding Wren's official status within the Aryan Circle varied. Wren claims that he never became a member of the Aryan Circle; as he never completed his nine-month probationary period, during which he was a recruit or prospect. Others testified that Wren achieved the rank of sergeant at arms; others that this was only his prison rank. But Wren's official rank in the Aryan Circle is of secondary importance. The government points to Wren's alleged role in smashes, or assaults, which the government claims Wren organized to further the methamphetamine conspiracy. Barrandey testified regarding one smash, stating that after Leo McCarty (McCarty) sold him bad-smelling anhydrous ammonia on several occasions, Wren suggested that he, Barrandey, and Jordan go beat up McCarty, which they did. This testimony does not indicate that Wren supervised, organized, or managed Barrandey, Jordan, or McCarty. Barrandey's testimony makes clear that Wren was subordinate to him, for he was Wren's prospector, or sponsor into the Aryan Circle. Hines, Jr., mentions a smash conducted by Wren, but then explains that it was over a girl, I believe, one of our prospects. Jordan testified that Chris Barrandey and Malachi Wren told me to rob Randy Barnes. This could be construed as evidence that Wren was an organizer or supervisor of Jordan, though more likely the person doing the organizing in this instance was Barrandey. 24 Hines, Jr., offered somewhat confused testimony that Aryan Circle sergeants at arms transmitted orders from Charles Samson to certain cooks that they were required to sell their methamphetamine to Aryan Circle members. Hines, Jr., also stated that Malachi Wren was a sergeant at arms at one time. But this testimony, while it might imply that Wren transmitted orders to certain cooks, does not establish that they followed those orders. Multiple witnesses testified that cooks sold to whoever was willing to buy, inside or outside of the Aryan Circle. 25 Most significantly, when asked which five persons Wren had organized, managed, or supervised, Hines, Jr., stated Jeff Jordan, myself, Shane Samson. There was a bro named Redwood. Tony Wilkins was supposed to be AC . . . and also stated Susan Creel, Tony Rister. When asked how Wren had organized or managed Jordan, Hines, Jr., stated [h]e took him to Floydada. They went up there and got anhydrous and did a cook. When asked how Wren organized or managed him, Hines, Jr., stated [t]here was a few times he would come by my shop and get—get valves or get pieces for his tanks, and he would need to go up there when he would go steal anhydrous. When asked how Wren supervised, organized or managed Shane Samson, Hines, Jr., testified I've seen Shane Samson giving pills before, and batteries, for a cook. When asked about what Wren did in regard to Redwood, Hines, Jr., stated I just know he come down here a couple times and picked up methamphetamine. I don't know if he was bringing the pills or if he was really in the picture with [Wren]. When asked how Wren was organizing Wilkins, Hines, Jr., stated Tony would have—I believe they would get pills, anhydrous. I mean, you know, you just—one day somebody might have the pills; somebody else might have the anhydrous. You just get together. What one person has, the other one might need. When asked how Wren organized Creel or Rister, Hines, Jr., responded [h]e would tell them to go get the pills and then give them a percentage off the cook. 26 This testimony indicates sporadic cooperation or coordination between Wren and other parties, but not control or authority by Wren over five or more persons. Hines, Jr.'s descriptions of the exchange of supplies between Wren and parties such as Shane Samson and Hines, Jr., evidence only buyer-seller relationships, without the other indicia of control required by Bass. Section 848 is designed to reach the top brass in the drug rings, not the lieutenants and foot soldiers. Garrett v. United States, 471 U.S. 773, 781, 105 S.Ct. 2407, 85 L.Ed.2d 764 (1985). In sum, the evidence presented by the prosecution was not strong enough to eliminate a reasonable doubt that Wren organized, supervised, or managed at least five persons in the methamphetamine trade.