Opinion ID: 1388566
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: a. Sufficiency of the Evidence on Diana Marquez's Drug Counts

Text: Diana Marquez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, and of conspiracy to import marijuana in the same amount. See 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(vii) (possession with intent to distribute); 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1), 960(b)(1)(G) (importation). She argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict her on these counts. To prove a conspiracy, the government must show (1) an agreement between two or more persons to pursue an unlawful objective; (2) the defendant's knowledge of the unlawful objective and voluntary agreement to join the conspiracy; and (3) an overt act by one or more of the members of the conspiracy in furtherance of the objective of the conspiracy. Conner, 537 F.3d at 484. The evidence to prove these charges was largely circumstantial but fairly substantial. One of Diana Marquez's former employers testified that she admitted helping Mario Marquez deliver drugs by carrying them in her purse. She also told the witness that she had sent drug proceeds to her mother, who used the money to buy two houses. Neighbors of the Marquezes and employees of the Organization testified that they had seen marijuana in Diana Marquez's house on several occasions, including a load of marijuana, in burlap sacks and large boxes. There was testimony that Diana Marquez helped others stay aware of Mario's frequently changing cell phone numbers, and told one of the employees to throw away a slip of paper with the number on it. There was evidence that Diana Marquez was the one that knew the immigration people who could ease the importation of drugs at the border. She was involved in a trip to find a house in El Paso that became a convenient transhipment point for marijuana. Two witnesses testified that Diana Marquez was involved in conversations during the trip about the suitability of various houses for drug operations, including favoring one house because it had a basement for storage. A key witness against all the defendants was Ricardo Sepulveda, who had worked for the Organization. It was the murder of his mother in Juarez for which one of the other defendants was convicted. Sepulveda testified to overhearing Diana Marquez warn Mario Marquez not to return home after their house was searched, and that she had boasted about agents not finding drug-related documents during the search. There was testimony that she had helped Mario Marquez in his search for Sepulveda after he had fled the house where his mother was killed. In addition to the testimony about Diana Marquez's actions and words, there was incriminating evidence found in her locker at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission office where she worked. When opened after her arrest, it contained $8,000 in cash, deposits slips totaling close to $90,000, and a statement from a Mexican bank showing a balance of $118,569.18. All this evidence was more than sufficient to support Diana Marquez's conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. With respect to the importation count, there was testimony from Sepulveda that Diana Marquez would call Mario Marquez to inform him what traffic lane at the border station was harder that day to use for importation. Sepulveda testified that she played a role of importing marijuana and drugs through the port of entry. He also testified that drug couriers, after crossing the border from El Paso into Juarez, frequently saw Diana Marquez at the yellow and green house, where one saw her holding a six-inch stack of money, with another such stack nearby. This mass of evidence fully supports a finding that Diana Marquez was not just present during the conspiracy. Her presence and association is part of the circumstantial evidence that she voluntarily joined the conspiracy; that a party does not physically possess drugs and plays a minor rolethough whether Diana Marquez's role should be labeled minor is debatabledoes not defeat conviction. United States v. Ayala, 887 F.2d 62, 67-68 (5th Cir.1989). It is true that evidence of involvement in a conspiracy can be too attenuated to sustain a conviction. United States v. Gardea Carrasco, 830 F.2d 41, 44-45 (5th Cir.1987). That defect does not exist in the evidence against Diana Marquez. The testimony against her did not describe a person unluckily present on only a single occasion. Her knowledge of the illegal activity and assistance to its success were sufficiently proven. We affirm the convictions on the drug counts.