Opinion ID: 772867
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: existence of multiple conspiracies

Text: 23 Defendants argue that the government proved multiple conspiracies rather than one conspiracy. When an indictment alleges a single conspiracy, but the government proves multiple conspiracies, reversal is required if the variance affects a defendant's substantial rights. See Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 756-57 (1946). 24 From our review of the record, it is clear that co-defendants Andrews, Banks, Boswell, Bradford, and Harrison were all parts of a unitary conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Sioux Falls. The defendants shared a common purpose and, to achieve that purpose, used mutual dependence and assistance. See United States v. Massa, 740 F.2d 629, 636 (8th Cir. 1984) (quoting United States v. Zemek, 634 F.2d 1159, 1167 (9th Cir. 1980)). 25 That does not end the inquiry, however, because the defendants also argue that the government proved the existence of another drug conspiracy, involving a separate group, the Kimble conspiracy. 4 The defendants argue that the evidence of the Kimble conspiracy prejudiced them because it had a spillover effect by inserting additional evidence of drug dealing into the trial. The government contends that it is irrelevant whether a witness at the trial was involved in another conspiracy, as long as the defendants themselves were all involved in the same conspiracy. This issue has not been precisely addressed by our precedent. 26 We are hesitant to say that the spillover of testimony about other conspiracies in which witnesses were involved could never constitute error. See United States v. Rosnow, 977 F.2d 399, 407-08 (8th Cir. 1992) (per curiam) (holding that evidence of multiple conspiracies among co-defendants at trial resulted in prejudice and mandated reversal of conspiracy conviction); United States v. Rounsavall, 115 F.3d 561, 564 (8th Cir. 1997) (discussing multiple conspiracy issue even though only one defendant was on trial). What is clear, however, is that in this case the co-defendants joined a unitary conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and there was no appreciable prejudice from the evidence of the Kimble conspiracy. The evidence showed that at times the co- defendants supplied Kimble with drugs. At other times, the groups competed for the same business. The purpose of the testimony regarding the Kimble conspiracy was to show the connections between the co-defendants and how the co-defendants conspired together, either to supply drugs to the Kimble conspiracy or to stop their competition. That there was some overlap with, and some testimony about, Kimble's drug dealing does not mean that there was any prejudice to the defendants in this case. Cf. United States v. Roach, 164 F.3d 403, 412 (8th Cir. 1998) (stating that rival drug dealers may still be part of same overall conspiracy).