Opinion ID: 10508
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: a. Standard of review A conviction must be allowed to stand if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the reviewing court finds that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 570 (1979). b. Edward Sotelo Edward Sotelo challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions on Count 2, Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Count 12, Distribution of Cocaine. A conviction for Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) requires proof that a defendant organized, supervised or managed five or more persons in a continuing series of drug violations from which the defendant obtained substantial income. See 21 U.S.C. § 848. “Such relationships need not have existed at the same moment in 5 time. It is sufficient if there exist separate, individual relations of control with at least five persons. Furthermore, the requisite five persons need not act in concert at the same time. Additionally, the same type of superior-subordinate relationship need not exist between the supervisor and each of the five other persons involved.” United States v. Phillips, 664 F.2d 971, 1013 (5th Cir. 1981) (citations omitted), cert. denied, 457 U.S. 1136, 102 S. Ct. 2965, 73 L. Ed. 2d 1354 (1982). The Government need not prove that the defendant is the “single ringleader.” Id. at 1034. Edward Sotelo argues that the evidence proved separate multiple conspiracies rather than a single conspiracy. He contends that he was acting independently from other individuals, as evidenced by referrals to Sotelo from other drug sellers when they did not have enough cocaine to fill an order. In determining whether single or multiple conspiracies exist, this Court looks at three factors: (1) the existence of a common goal; (2) the nature of the scheme; and (3) overlap of the participants. United States v. Maceo, 947 F.2d 1191, 1196 (5th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 949, 112 S. Ct. 1510, 117 L. Ed. 2d 647 (1992). First, the common goal was the sale of cocaine and marijuana; second, the nature of the scheme, to sell large quantities of drugs to others who were responsible for retailing it, is consistent throughout the evidence; and third, all of the indicted codefendants and cooperating Government witnesses were interrelated except witness Arthur Franklin, who came in at the end as an undercover informant. The evidence in the record is sufficient to establish Edward 6 Sotelo’s criminal liability for a CCE under the criteria set out in Phillips. Edward Sotelo’s attack on his Continuing Criminal Enterprise conviction is without merit. In order to prove that a defendant distributed a controlled substance, the Government must prove that the defendant (1)knowingly (2) distributed (3) the controlled substance. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Count 12 charged Edward Sotelo and Flores with distribution of cocaine in connection with the drug buy set up by Franklin, after which Edward Sotelo and Flores were arrested. Sotelo contends that his conviction in Count 12 rests solely on the perjured testimony of Arthur Franklin. There is no basis in the record before this Court for labeling Franklin’s testimony perjured. Although his credibility was damaged because he continued to sell drugs after he agreed to work for the Government, his testimony about the specifics of the drug buy underlying Count 12 are corroborated by a taped phone conversation and by the testimony of the police officer that was posted outside the apartment during the buy. Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could well have found all the elements of distribution of cocaine beyond a reasonable doubt. c. Gary Artiaga Artiaga challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for conspiracy. Artiaga does not challenge the existence of a conspiracy, but claims that he did not know about it or participate in it. The lease for the group’s drug storehouse 7 was in Artiaga’s name and videotaped surveillance showed that he visited the warehouse. The evidence in the record also includes testimony that Peter Edwards purchased one kilogram of cocaine for $20,000 from Artiaga and Edward Sotelo in 1993; that Artiaga accompanied Edward Sotelo while Sotelo delivered drugs; and that Artiaga advised a potential purchaser to call Edward Sotelo in order to purchase drugs. The transcripts of two telephone conversations between Artiaga and Edward Sotelo in which they discussed drug negotiations, supply and prices to charge clients were before the jury as well. Based on our review of the record, we have concluded that the evidence was sufficient to support Artiaga’s conviction for conspiracy. d. Lawrence Flores Flores argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions for Count 1 - conspiracy and Count 12 - distribution of cocaine. Flores’s position on the conspiracy count is that all the testimony implicating him in the conspiracy lacked credibility. Testimony established that Flores accompanied Edward Sotelo on a number of drug transactions, sometimes handed the drugs to the customer and was present at the drug warehouse, all in addition to his participation in the drug buy that resulted in his arrest. Further, Flores contends that the evidence on Count 12 is insufficient because it simply shows his presence at the drug buy. However, the officer’s testimony established that Flores left the apartment where Franklin’s drug buy was supposed to take place, retrieved the drugs from a car and returned to the apartment, 8 indicating that Flores was not just innocently present at the scene of the crime. The evidence is sufficient to sustain Flores’s convictions on Counts 1 and 12. e. Ernesto Quintana Quintana contends that the Government failed to prove the “knowledge” element of Counts 1, 10 & 11 as to Quintana. He characterizes the evidence as showing that he was merely present during some drug transactions. He contends that he did not even know drug transactions were taking place. He also claims that the evidence did not show that he agreed to commit any crime, as required for the conspiracy conviction. The Government’s evidence against Quintana included testimony that: Quintana accompanied Edward Sotelo on a vast number of cocaine and marijuana deliveries, Blevins purchased drugs from Edward Sotelo and Ernest Quintana on a number of occasions, Quintana was present when the purchase price was paid during these transactions, Quintana delivered marihuana to Blevins by himself in one transaction and to Peter Edward on another occasion, and Quintana was with Edward Sotelo during the Blevins sting transaction in which they fled the scene. This evidence is adequate to support the jury’s verdict. III. EXCLUSION OF MINORITY MEMBERS FROM THE VENIRE Appellants contend that they were denied their right to a petit jury drawn from a fair cross section of the community. The trial court’s factual determination that there was no systematic exclusion of minority members from the venire is reviewed for clear error. United States v. McKinney, 53 F.3d 664 (5th Cir.), cert. 9 denied, 116 S. Ct. 261, 133 L. Ed. 2d 184 (1995). The trial court denied a motion by Edward Sotelo to quash the jury panel because there was only one Hispanic person among the fifty venire persons. To establish a prima facie violation of the fair cross section requirement, the defendant must show that: (1) the group alleged to be excluded is a “distinctive” group in the community; (2) the representation of this group in venires from which juries are selected is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community; and (3) this underrepresentation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury selection process. Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 99 S. Ct. 664, 58 L. Ed. 2d 579 (1979). Edward Sotelo asked the trial court to assume factors 2 & 3 based on the fact that only one Hispanic person was a member of a 50 person panel. It was not clear error for the trial court to deny the motion to quash, as Edward Sotelo failed to carry his burden to establish a prima facie violation.