Opinion ID: 772486
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Felon-In-Possession of a Firearm

Text: 176 Finally, Dhinsa challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction for possession of weapons as a convicted felon under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) stemming from the May 1997 search of the Citygas business offices and warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. During that search, the police seized two guns found inside an armored Citygas van parked inside the warehouse and a shotgun located in another section of the warehouse. On appeal, Dhinsa argues that the government failed to prove that he possessed these weapons within the meaning of section 922(g). Specifically, Dhinsa argues that the government's proof of constructive possession rests solely on his ownership of the Citygas warehouse where the firearms were seized and his familiarity with other firearms. We reject Dhinsa's arguments, and affirm his conviction for weapons possession. 177 To sustain a conviction under section 922(g), the government need not prove that Dhinsa physically possessed the firearm; rather, proof of constructive possession is sufficient. See United States v. Payton, 159 F.3d 49, 56 (2d Cir. 1998); United States v. Rivera, 844 F.2d 916, 925 (2d Cir. 1988). 178 Constructive possession exists when a person has the power and intention to exercise dominion and control over an object. Payton, 159 F.3d at 56; see also United States v. Walls, 225 F.3d 858, 864 (7th Cir. 2000); United States v. Moore, 212 F.3d 441, 445 (8th Cir. 2000). In making this determination, courts examine, inter alia, whether the defendant exercised dominion and control over the premises in which the firearms are located. United States v. Layne, 192 F.3d 556, 571 (6th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 120 S.Ct. 1443 (2000); see also United States v. Adkins, 196 F.3d 1112, 1118 (10th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 120 S.Ct. 1446 (2000); United States v. Wight, 968 F.2d 1393, 1398 (1st Cir. 1992) (collecting cases). It is of no moment that other individuals also may have exercised control over the weapons. See Payton, 159 F.3d at 56; United States v. Kitchen, 57 F.3d 516, 521 (7th Cir. 1995) (Constructive possession may be either sole or joint.). The government may establish constructive possession through direct or circumstantial evidence. See Payton, 159 F.3d at 56. The substance of the district court's instructions reflected these standards. 179 Viewing the totality of the evidence presented to the jury in the light most favorable to the government, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable juror to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Dhinsa constructively possessed the firearms seized from the Citygas warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. First, Dodson testified that he sold Dhinsa a gun, and arranged for Dhinsa to purchase additional weapons from one of his friends. Second, Dhinsa regularly supplied Dodson and others with guns that were used in connection with the enterprise's criminal activities. Specifically, Dodson testified that Dhinsa instructed him to pick up th[e] gun from [the] Guy Brewer [station] that would later be used in Manmohan's murder. Following the murder, Dodson complied with Dhinsa's request that he return the gun to him. Dodson also testified that Dhinsa selected the gun to be used in connection with Satinderjit's murder, and, in similar fashion, the gun was returned to Dhinsa upon his request following the murder. Third, Dhinsa does not dispute that he exercised control or dominion over the Citygas offices and warehouse in Brooklyn, New York where the firearms were found. See, e.g., Layne, 192 F.3d at 572; United States v. De Leon, 170 F.3d 494, 497 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 120 S.Ct. 156 (1999); United States v. Craven, 478 F.2d 1329, 1333 (6th Cir. 1973). This factor, coupled with Dodson's testimony that Dhinsa directed him to a specific Citygas station where he could pick up the gun to be used in the murders of Manmohan and Satinderjit, could reasonably lead the jury to infer that Dhinsa exercised similar control over firearms located at other Citygas facilities. Dhinsa's position as the sole leader of the Singh Enterprise reinforces this point. See, e.g., Wight, 968 F.2d at 1398. The fact that other individuals had access to the warehouse and van does not negate a finding that Dhinsa had the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over [these firearms], either directly or through others. United States v. Pelusio, 725 F.2d 161, 167 (2d Cir. 1983) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Kitchen, 57 F.3d at 521. Fourth, the armored Citygas van in which the guns were found was regularly used to collect receipts from the various Citygas stations. From this fact, the jury could reasonably infer that Dhinsa was aware that the occupants of the van, who typically wore bulletproof vests, were armed during their pickups. This conclusion is bolstered by the armored van's being parked outside Dhinsa's office daily. Moreover, in light of Dhinsa's specific instructions to Dodson regarding the firearms he used to murder Manmohan and Satinderjit, the jury could infer that Dhinsa similarly instructed the individuals in the van as to which weapons they should carry during their pickups. Thus, viewing the evidence in the aggregate, the jury could reasonably find constructive possession beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we affirm Dhinsa's conviction under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1).