Opinion ID: 687644
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 23 Wilks' final challenge is to the sufficiency of the evidence. He contends that no reasonable juror could have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of attempting to possess cocaine on the basis of the evidence presented. 24 The defendant's burden in challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a formidable one. United States v. Burrell, 963 F.2d 976, 987 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 357, 121 L.Ed.2d 270 (1992). Our standard of review requires that the evidence be viewed in the light most favorable to the government in determining whether 'any rational trier-of-fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.'  United States v. Draiman, 784 F.2d 248, 251 (7th Cir.1986) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). See also Burrell, 963 F.2d at 987. We will not reweigh the evidence or invade the jury's province of assessing credibility, United States v. Van Wyhe, 965 F.2d 528, 531 (7th Cir.1992), and we will overturn the jury's verdict only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Crowder, 36 F.3d 691, 695 (7th Cir.1994) (quoting Brandom v. United States, 431 F.2d 1391, 1400 (7th Cir.1970), cert. denied, 400 U.S. 1022, 91 S.Ct. 586, 27 L.Ed.2d 634 (1971)). 25 To convict, the government had to prove that [Wilks] acted with specific intent to commit the underlying offense, and in addition took a substantial step toward its completion. United States v. Cea, 914 F.2d 881, 887 (7th Cir.1990) (citing United States v. Rovetuso, 768 F.2d 809, 821 (7th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1076, 106 S.Ct. 838, 88 L.Ed.2d 809 (1986)). That Wilks intended to purchase the cocaine when he spoke with McKenzie is undisputed. The terms of the deal were set and Wilks indicated he would be right over to finalize the transaction. Whether he took a substantial step toward completing that transaction was a question of fact for the jury to decide. It found that he did, and we agree. 26 [W]hen a defendant has been active in negotiating a drug transaction and has actually taken physical steps to obtain possession of the drug, the attempt offense is complete. Cea, 914 F.2d at 888. See also United States v. Williams, 704 F.2d 315, 321 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 991, 104 S.Ct. 481, 78 L.Ed.2d 679 (1983) (substantial step completed where the defendant actively solicited narcotics sale by telephone and within a short time appeared at designated location with the money to consummate the sale); United States v. Cafaro, 480 F.Supp. 511, 515 (S.D.N.Y.1979) (substantial step completed where defendant had telephone conversations with a narcotics seller who was cooperating with the government; agreed that the defendant would bring the money to the seller's apartment that evening to complete the sale; brought the money and was arrested in the lobby of the seller's apartment). In the present case, Wilks had negotiated the terms of the sale; knew where the transaction was to occur; arrived at that location soon after the terms were agreed upon; and had the exact amount of money in his possession necessary to complete the transaction and obtain possession of the cocaine. The jury could reasonably have found on the basis of this evidence that Wilks had taken a substantial step toward the completion of the transaction and that, but for the intervention of the police, the sale would have been consummated. See United States v. Rosalez-Cortez, 19 F.3d 1210, 1217 (7th Cir.1994).