Opinion ID: 1424891
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Farris first argues that the Government presented insufficient evidence to convict him for participating in the crimes related to the bank robbery or the burning of the Kia. Farris faces a steep, uphill battle to prevail on this claim given the high standard of review. As this Court has stated, [o]ur threshold inquiry is whether `after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.' United States v. Curtis, 324 F.3d 501, 505 (7th Cir.2003) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in original)). Moreover, [w]e will overturn a conviction based on insufficient evidence only if the record is devoid of evidence from which a reasonable jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. The Government, however, argues that Farris faces an even higher burden in this case, contending that Farris waived his sufficiency of the evidence challenge by failing to renew his motion for judgment of acquittal under FED.R.CRIM.P. 29 at the close of all the evidence or within seven days of the jury's verdict. United States v. Hickok, 77 F.3d 992, 1002 (7th Cir.1996). Farris failed to respond to the Government's argument in a Reply Brief, and accordingly, we find that Farris waived his sufficiency of the evidence challenge, and instead, may obtain a reversal only if he demonstrates `a manifest miscarriage of justice.' Id. (quoting United States v. Archambault, 62 F.3d 995, 998 (7th Cir. 1995)). This heightened standard of review, however, has no impact on the merits of Farris's claim, since under either standard, there was clearly sufficient evidence to support the verdict and no miscarriage of justice occurred. Farris's sufficiency of the evidence arguments do not dwell on whether discreet elements for each crime were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Rather, he broadly claims that there was insufficient evidence linking him to either the bank robbery or the burning of the Kia. These assertions on Farris's part, however, are directly undermined by Coartney's testimony, as both a participant and a witness, regarding Farris's role in both these crimes. Although Farris argues that Coartney's arguments were unreasonable, it is well settled that on a sufficiency of the evidence claim, this Court do[es] not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. United States v. Orozco-Vasquez, 469 F.3d 1101, 1106 (7th Cir.2006). Therefore, it is of no significance that, as Farris points out, Coartney's testimony is whole[ly] inconsistent with the evidence presented by Travis [Farris] at trial. Appellant's Br. at 28. Moreover, the specific arguments Farris makes with respect to his convictions all fail to show that the evidence was insufficient or a manifest miscarriage of justice. With respect to the burning of the Kia and the accompanying conspiracy charge, Farris makes no effort to argue that there was insufficient evidence for the jury to find any of the elements for mail fraud or conspiracy satisfied. Instead, Farris's sole argument focuses on motive, claiming that no evidence was presented, save Coartney's testimony, to show that there had been mechanical problems with the vehicle or that Farris's financial situation was so dire that he would be compelled to defraud his insurance company. Even if the jury were to find in Farris's favor on these issues, however, this would not be inconsistent with the jury also finding that Farris burned the vehicle to obtain the insurance proceeds. As for the bank robbery, given that we will not reevaluate credibility determinations as to witness testimony, Farris is left to argue that Coartney's testimony was incredible as a matter of law, meaning it would have been `physically impossible for the witness to observe that which he claims occurred, or impossible under the laws of nature for the occurrence to have taken place at all.' United States v. Saulter, 60 F.3d 270, 275 (7th Cir.1995) (quoting United States v. Wallace, 32 F.3d 1171, 1173 (7th Cir.1994)). Farris tries to make such an argument, claiming that if he had in fact participated in the bank robbery, it would have been impossible for him to have also arrived at the Army recruiting event later that morning when he did. Even based on Farris's own time estimates, however, his claim fails. The bank's surveillance video reflects that the robbers were in the bank at 9:44 AM. Despite Farris's conclusory assertion that it would have then taken him well over 30 minutes to arrive at the Army function, his formal time calculation is that travel time from the bank to the Army event would have been more than 28 minutes and 8 seconds. Using this latter figure, Farris would have arrived at the Army function sometime after 10:12 AM. This fails to make Coartney's testimony incredible as a matter of law, since the Army Sergeant, who was Farris's own witness, testified that the event that morning could have begun as late as 10:20 AM. At trial, Farris was given the opportunity to present his own evidence and cross-examine and impeach Coartney's testimony. The fact that the jury ultimately credited Coartney's testimony is a matter that Farris improperly tries to re-litigate on appeal. The Government provided more than ample evidence for a jury to find Farris guilty of the charged crimes. While Coartney's testimony alone would have been sufficient to support the verdict, his testimony was also corroborated by eye-witness accounts of the robbery, the store owner who sold Farris the gun, and other witnesses. For these reasons, we affirm on this claim.