Opinion ID: 2973060
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Only Harris and Henderson challenge the sufficiency of the evidence. The relevant question on appeal 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.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979) (emphasis in original). In making this determination, however, we may not reweigh the evidence, reevaluate the credibility of witnesses, or substitute our judgment for that of the jury. United States v. Hillard, 11 F.3d 618, 620 (6th Cir. 1993). In order to sustain a conviction for conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the government must have proved (1) an agreement to violate drug laws, in this case 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); (2) knowledge and intent to join the conspiracy; and (3) participation in the conspiracy. United States v. Welch, 97 F.3d 142, 148-49 (6th Cir. 1996). “[P]roof of a formal agreement is not necessary; ‘a tacit or material understanding among the parties’ will suffice.” United States v. Avery, 128 F.3d 966, 97071 (6th Cir. 1997) (quoting United States v. Pearce, 912 F.2d 159, 161 (6th Cir. 1990)). The existence of a conspiracy “‘may be inferred from circumstantial evidence that can reasonably be interpreted as participation in the common plan.’” Id. at 971 (citation omitted). Once a conspiracy is shown beyond a reasonable doubt however, a defendant’s connection to the conspiracy “need only 5 In discussing harmless error, defendants emphasize the district court’s statement that the letter was “a very significant piece of evidence.” It should be noted that this comment was made in deciding that defendants should be afforded an opportunity to examine the letter and prepare to argue against its admission. While the letter was relevant circumstantial evidence tending to show the existence of the alleged conspiracy, it was hardly the only or even the strongest evidence of conspiracy in light of the testimony from numerous cooperating witnesses. The letter did not mention these defendants by name, nor were any of the “papers” found in places linked to Martinez, Harris, or Henderson. Although the government emphasized that the papers were found in places linked to Garrett, Chaney, and Brown, the jury acquitted Chaney and failed to reach a verdict as to Brown. Nos. 03-3833/3835/3879/3917 United States v. Martinez, et al. Page 9 be slight.” Id. Moreover, a defendant’s knowledge of and participation in a conspiracy may be inferred from his conduct and established by circumstantial evidence. United States v. Salgado, 250 F.3d 438, 447 (6th Cir. 2001). Review of the record reflects ample evidence from which the jury could infer that there was a chain-type conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana in the Sandusky area. Although the evidence consisted primarily of plea-based testimony from coconspirators, there was also testimony from law enforcement officers concerning a number of monitored transactions and other evidence obtained in the investigation. Before turning to the specific claims of error, we broadly outline some of the evidence as it relates to the defendants who have appealed. Martinez, who is from Texas, supplied large quantities of marijuana and cocaine to dealers in Sandusky. There was specific testimony that between 1993 and 1996, Martinez fronted Herb Hatter 50 pounds of marijuana twice and 5 kilograms of cocaine once. During 2000 and 2001, Martinez arranged for about $50,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana to be transported to Castile about twice per month, some of which Castile shared with Jones. Jones testified that each shipment involved between 3 and 7 kilograms of cocaine and 50 to 70 pounds of marijuana. In December 2001, after Castile’s arrest, Martinez was stopped while driving with Jones in a truck in which several kilograms of cocaine and $9,490 in cash had been concealed. In the mid-1990s, Eddie Thomas, a codefendant in this case, supplied cocaine to dealers in the Sandusky area, including Castile, Turner, Fenderson, Harris, Garrett, and Gray. Some of those arrangements are pertinent to these appeals. Castile testified that he bought 4 1/2 ounces of cocaine per week from Thomas for about three years. Castile, in turn, supplied 4 1/2 ounces directly to Harris (once in 1995 and four times in 1997), and 1/2 kilogram to Willie Philon (four or five times). Castile found another supplier from California from whom he bought 5 kilograms of cocaine twice per month from 1996 to 1998. Castile stopped dealing when that supplier was arrested in 1998, but resumed his activities when Jones introduced him to Martinez in 2000. Thomas supplied Garrett with 1 kilogram of cocaine per week for eight to ten weeks in 1990 and 1991, until Garrett went around him and bought directly from his supplier. Then, for several years in the mid-1990s, Garrett and Gray purchased 1 kilogram of cocaine per week from Thomas (or sometimes from Terrence Chatman). Occasionally, Garrett and Gray “pooled” their money with other dealers, including Michael Young and Mike Johnson, to buy a second kilogram of cocaine from Thomas. Thomas Hamilton testified that he drove with Garrett a few times to buy cocaine from Thomas. In three controlled buys, one each in January, April, and June 1996, Garrett sold cocaine base to a confidential informant. Those sales, which resulted in state convictions, were charged as overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy. In 1999, Garrett and Young together bought 1/2 kilogram of cocaine from Philon. Erv Turner, a defendant in the first case, testified that he got started buying cocaine from Henderson in 1990, and bought 1/16 or 1/8 ounce of cocaine from Henderson every three weeks. In the early 1990s, Henderson also sold or fronted similar quantities of cocaine to Thomas Hamilton between three and six times. Hamilton testified that he considered Henderson to be a secondary source for cocaine. One time, Henderson and two others went to Thomas to buy 1/2 kilogram of cocaine. Thomas called someone in Sandusky to check them out. They paid for only 9 ounces before a dispute arose over the quality, and Henderson’s associates started shooting. Thomas grabbed all but 2 ounces of the cocaine and got away. Henderson was involved in several drug transactions with Herb Hatter and Al Hatter in the early 1990s. Henderson and Herb Hatter exchanged a total of between 2 and 6 ounces of cocaine in a half dozen transactions. Al Hatter bought 50 pounds of marijuana from Henderson, rode with Nos. 03-3833/3835/3879/3917 United States v. Martinez, et al. Page 10 Henderson to pick up 100 pounds of marijuana, and saw him with about 300 pounds of marijuana. Al Hatter also made purchases from Martinez and Garrett, while Herb Hatter made purchases from Martinez and Thomas. Darnell Kirkwood, a defendant in another case, testified that he saw Henderson sell cocaine base to others, went with Henderson to buy 4-ounce quantities of cocaine from someone in Detroit, and saw Henderson with about $200 worth of cocaine base on four or five occasions. In 1993, Harris introduced Thomas to Erv Turner. Thomas sold Turner 1/8 kilogram of cocaine about once a month for several years. Turner testified that Harris would sometimes go with him and would buy similar quantities of cocaine from Thomas. Over a full year during 1998 and 1999, Harris bought between 9 and 18 ounces of cocaine per month from Philon (who testified he was buying cocaine through Jones). Turner had stopped dealing drugs for several years, but returned to it from early 1999 until his arrest in August 1999. In that period of time, Turner bought a total of 10 ounces of cocaine from Henderson in five or six transactions and a similar quantity of cocaine from Harris in about four transactions. Harris also arranged at one point for Turner to buy cocaine directly from Philon. That summer, during June, July, and August 1999, Turner made six controlled buys to a confidential informant and testified that each time the cocaine had been obtained either from Harris or Henderson.
Harris does not deny that there was a conspiracy or that he bought and sold drugs, but argues that the evidence showed at most that he was involved in a series of independent arms-length drug transactions amounting to no more than a mere buyer-seller relationship. Comparing this case to United States v. Thomas, 150 F.3d 743 (7th Cir. 1998), Harris maintains that the evidence was insufficient to establish his connection to the conspiracy. His reliance on Thomas is misplaced because there the court found plain error in the refusal to give a mere buyer-seller instruction in the face of evidence that the defendant had specialized in selling drugs on a spot-market basis. In this case, the jury was specifically instructed that evidence of a mere buyer-seller relationship would not be enough to establish a conspiracy.6 Next, Harris points to evidence that three of the testifying coconspirators had only one or two drug transactions with him.7 It was not necessary to prove that Harris had ongoing dealings with all of the conspirators. In a drug distribution “chain” conspiracy, it is enough to show that each member of the conspiracy realized that he was participating in a joint venture, even if he did not know the identities of every other member, or was not involved in all the activities in furtherance of the conspiracy. Maliszewski, 161 F.3d at 1014; United States v. Odom, 13 F.3d 949, 959 (6th Cir. 1994). As outlined above, there was evidence that Harris bought directly from Castile a handful of times, provided the introduction between Thomas and Turner that lead to the regular purchase of 1/8 kilogram quantities of cocaine, and had traveled with Turner to buy similar quantities of cocaine from Thomas. There was also evidence that Harris bought 9- and 18-ounce quantities of cocaine 6 The jury was instructed that the “mere purchase or sale of drugs does not in itself establish a conspiracy to distribute”; that “the government must further demonstrate the other elements of conspiracy, including an agreement”; and that “evidence of a mere buyer/seller relationship alone does not support a conspiracy conviction, but you may consider other evidence concerning the relationship between the parties to determine the defendant’s knowledge and participation in the conspiracy alleged.” 7 Specifically, Michael Kincaide indirectly sold cocaine to Harris twice; Thomas Hamilton sold one ounce of cocaine each to Harris and Gray once; and Damon Rice once obtained an ounce each of cocaine and cocaine base from Harris. Nos. 03-3833/3835/3879/3917 United States v. Martinez, et al. Page 11 from Philon for a full year in 1998 and 1999. Harris, in turn, sold a total of about 10 ounces of cocaine to Turner in several transactions during the summer of 1999, some of which were then sold to a confidential informant. The fact that Philon said he did not know or care to know to whom Harris sold the cocaine did not preclude the jury from finding that they both knew they were participating in a joint venture. “[E]vidence of repeat purchases provides evidence of more than a mere buyer-seller relationship,” and the quantity of drugs may also support an inference of conspiracy. United States v. Brown, 332 F.3d 363, 373 (6th Cir. 2003). We have no difficulty concluding that there was evidence from which a reasonable juror could find that a chain conspiracy existed and that Harris knowingly and intentionally joined in it. Welch, 97 F.3d at 149 (finding multiple purchases of significant quantities of drugs belied claim that defendant was a “mere buyer”).
Also contesting the sufficiency of the evidence to show that he knowingly joined the conspiracy, Henderson argues that no witnesses testified either that he was involved in the formation of the conspiracy, or that he was expressly told about the conspiracy. While this is true, it is immaterial because the government need not prove an explicit agreement to establish either the existence of the conspiracy, or that the defendant agreed to participate in what he knew to be a joint venture. It is also immaterial that Henderson did not play a central role in the conspiracy. It is not necessary that the defendant “be an active participant in every phase of the conspiracy, so long as he is a party to the general conspiratorial agreement.” United States v. Hodges, 935 F.2d 766, 773 (6th Cir. 1991). Henderson’s knowledge and participation may be inferred from his dealings with several members of the conspiracy.8 Henderson repeatedly supplied Turner with cocaine every three weeks for several years in the early 1990s, and another five or six times in 1999. There was also evidence that some cocaine Turner obtained from Henderson was sold to a confidential informant. Hamilton considered Henderson to be a secondary source and bought from him between three and six times, and Herb Hatter was also involved in a half dozen cocaine transactions with Henderson. On appeal, Henderson argues that the evidence was inconsistent with the alleged purpose and object of the conspiracy; namely, that Herb Hatter (and a number of others) had supplied drugs to Henderson (and a number of others). The sufficiency of the evidence is not undermined by the evidence that Henderson both bought and sold drugs to other members of the conspiracy. Herb Hatter admitted to being a member of the conspiracy and testified that his dealings with Henderson were part of the “drug business.” Additionally, there was evidence that Henderson sold large quantities of marijuana to members of the conspiracy on two occasions. Philon used Jones as a “go-between” to purchase 10 pounds of marijuana from Henderson, and Al Hatter purchased 50 pounds of marijuana from Henderson. Henderson points out that Hatter had other suppliers, including Martinez, and testified that he competed with Henderson for the same purchasers of marijuana. The fact that they sold to some of the same customers in the conspiracy’s distribution chain is circumstantial evidence that Henderson was party to the general conspiratorial agreement. Knowledge and participation can be inferred from the defendant’s conduct, but mere association with members of the conspiracy is not enough to support such an inference. Pearce, 912 8 Henderson points to the absence of evidence that he participated in transactions with anyone charged with him in the second indictment, but concedes that not all members of a conspiracy must be charged together. Here, a single conspiracy was charged in two indictments and several cooperating coconspirators from the first case testified against him at trial. Nos. 03-3833/3835/3879/3917 United States v. Martinez, et al. Page 12 F.2d at 162. Relying on United States v. Gibbs, 182 F.3d 408 (6th Cir. 1999), Henderson argues that his conviction rested on nothing more than the fact that he and many of the alleged coconspirators grew up together and sold drugs at the same time and in the same part of town. This case is not analogous to Gibbs. The conspiracy convictions of two of the defendants in Gibbs were reversed because the evidence was insufficient to establish that they had joined in it. This court cautioned that the defendants’ participation could not be inferred merely from the fact that they were drug dealers, knew each other from the neighborhood, and belonged to the same neighborhood organization called Short North Posse (SNP). The crux of the case, however, was the nature of the alleged conspiracy. Specifically, the government charged a loose group of drug dealers with conspiring to control distribution by excluding non-local drug dealers. While there was evidence that the defendants were dealing drugs, there was no evidence of an agreement to exclude others from dealing in the area. In contrast, Henderson’s connection to the conspiracy, a general conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs, can be inferred from evidence that he was involved in repeat drug transactions with members of the conspiracy. Accord United States v. Quinones-Cedeno, 51 Fed. Appx. 558, 564 (6th Cir. 2002) (unpublished decision) (distinguishing Gibbs from a typical drug distribution conspiracy). We find that the evidence, taken in the light most favorable to the government, was sufficient to lead a rational trier of fact to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Henderson knowingly and intentionally joined in the alleged conspiracy.