Court Opinion

ID: 4535739
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-21 15:00:36.90517+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:36:50.168114
License: Public Domain

Case: 19-12637   Date Filed: 05/21/2020   Page: 1 of 14

                                                         [DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________

                             No. 19-12637
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 1:18-cr-00011-RWG-SMD-4

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

DENNIS REINALDO PERALTA,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Middle District of Alabama
                      ________________________

                              (May 21, 2020)

Before JILL PRYOR, GRANT and LUCK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
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         Dennis Reinaldo Peralta appeals his conviction for conspiracy to distribute

50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),

(b)(1)(A). Peralta raises several challenges to his conviction including whether:

(1) the district court abused its discretion in denying his requested jury instruction

explaining that speculation, suspicion, or a guess was an insufficient basis for

conviction; (2) there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction; and (3) the

Middle District of Alabama was a proper venue. After careful review, and for the

reasons below, we affirm.

                                   I.    BACKGROUND

         Peralta was indicted for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or

more of methamphetamine. 1 The following facts were established at his criminal

trial.

         The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) was investigating gang activity

involving Bryant Pouncy when they learned that a group, the “Pouncy gang,” was

distributing methamphetamine in Enterprise, Alabama. During the investigation

the FBI developed a confidential source, May, who worked with the gang’s drug

supplier, Jose Rubalcava, and was responsible for recruiting new buyers.

Rubalcava, who was based in Mexico, supplied the Pouncy gang with

         1
         Peralta was indicted alongside eight co-defendants who were charged for participating
in the conspiracy as well as other crimes.
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methamphetamine, which they picked up in Atlanta and then distributed in

Enterprise. As part of the investigation, the FBI introduced May to a certified

undercover employee (“UCE”). May then communicated to Rubalcava that the

UCE was interested in buying methamphetamine. Rubalcava contacted the UCE,

and the two agreed that Rubalcava would supply the UCE with one kilogram of

methamphetamine a month, for $10,500 per kilogram. On the call, Rubalcava

informed the UCE that he supplied people in Enterprise and made deliveries of

methamphetamine in Atlanta, where he wanted the UCE to pick up the delivery.

      The UCE conducted multiple controlled purchases from Rubalcava. To

conduct the transactions, the UCE would contact Rubalcava, who would provide

him with a local phone number and a code word. The UCE would then contact the

person at that phone number who was in the Atlanta area and use the code word to

set up the methamphetamine delivery. The first code word was “alazan,” which

the UCE used to set up a transaction for one kilogram of methamphetamine for

$10,500. The UCE set up a second transaction with Rubalcava, with the code

word “lacho,” where again the UCE purchased one kilogram of methamphetamine

for $10,500. A third deal was set up by the UCE and Rubalcava, for the same

amount and price, with the code word “la rama.” In the third deal, the UCE

received a call from Peralta’s phone to set up the transaction. When the UCE

arrived at the pick-up location, he got into a Honda Accord, registered to Peralta,

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and made a transaction of $10,500 for one kilogram of methamphetamine. The

UCE identified Peralta in court as the individual with whom he had completed the

transaction.

      The Pouncy gang traveled to Atlanta on at least two occasions to pick up

methamphetamine. Facebook Messenger records revealed one transaction for two

kilograms of methamphetamine for $18,000, and another, where Pouncy was

provided a phone number to call with the code word “alazan,” for about three

kilograms of methamphetamine for $29,000. On both occasions, the transactions

occurred in Atlanta via a courier or delivery person.

      Records from Western Union revealed that Peralta had sent approximately

95 money transfers. The transfers were connected through his phone number and

name. A representative from Western Union testified that all of the transactions

were under $1,000—a threshold that would require additional sender information,

such as a driver’s license. The transactions used an address in the vicinity of

Lawrenceville, Georgia, and the majority of the transactions used a Belmont Lane

address in Lawrenceville that matched the address listed on Peralta’s license.

Fifty-five of the transactions were sent to Mexico, for a total of $44,042.77. For

these transactions, the following email address was provided,

dennisperalta665@yahoo.com.

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      After the close of the government’s case, Peralta moved for a judgment of

acquittal, arguing that the government had failed to submit sufficient evidence to

connect him to the conspiracy as charged because he was not part of the Pouncy

gang and the UCE’s identification of him was inadequate. Peralta further argued

that he could not conspire with an agent, the UCE, and that venue was improper

because the UCE was his only connection to Alabama; all the transactions

occurred in Atlanta. The district court denied the motion for acquittal and found

that the venue issue turned on a question of fact for the jury to decide.

      At trial, Peralta requested a jury instruction on speculation or guesswork,

which read:

      If you believe the evidence in this case did nothing more than create a
      suspicion, a possibility, speculation, or a guess that the defendant is guilty of
      the criminal act(s) he is charged with, then that is an insufficient basis for
      conviction. Circumstances merely causing a suspicion of guilt are not
      sufficient to justify a conviction of crime.

Doc. 290 at 12.2 The government objected arguing that such an instruction would

be repetitive because the court’s jury instructions already included the Eleventh

Circuit’s pattern reasonable doubt instruction, which stated, “‘[p]roof beyond a

reasonable doubt’ is proof so convincing that you would be willing to rely and act

on it without hesitation in the most important of your own affairs.” Doc. 290 at 5.

The district court refused to give Peralta’s additional instruction on the grounds

      2
          “Doc. #” refers to the district court’s numbered docket entry.
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that it was covered by other instructions and was confusing. The jury found

Peralta guilty and he was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment.

     This is Peralta’s appeal.

                                 II.    LEGAL ANALYSIS

        Peralta raises three arguments on appeal. First, he contends that the district

court erred in failing to give his additional requested jury instruction. Second, he

argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for a judgment of acquittal

because the government failed to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Peralta

was guilty of conspiring with the co-defendants listed in the indictment, who were

members of the Pouncy gang. Third, Peralta argues that the Middle District of

Alabama was an improper venue because he committed no crime there. We

consider each argument in turn.

A.      The District Court Did Not Err in Refusing to Give Peralta’s Requested
        Jury Instruction.

        We review the district court’s refusal to give a proposed jury instruction for

an abuse of discretion. United States v. Dean, 487 F.3d 840, 847 (11th Cir. 2007).

“District courts enjoy broad discretion in formulating jury instructions, so long as

the charge as a whole accurately reflects the law in the context of a case’s facts.”

United States v. Isnadin, 742 F.3d 1278, 1296 (11th Cir. 2014). A district court

abuses its discretion in failing to give a requested instruction if (1) the requested

instruction was a correct statement of the law; (2) its subject matter was not

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substantially covered by the charge actually given; and (3) its subject matter dealt

with an issue in the trial court that was so important that the failure to give it

seriously impaired the defendant’s ability to defend himself. United States v.

Paradies, 98 F.3d 1266, 1286 (11th Cir. 1996).

      Peralta requested a supplemental jury instruction that provided:

      If you believe the evidence in this case did nothing more than create a
      suspicion, a possibility, speculation, or a guess that the defendant is guilty of
      the criminal act(s) he is charged with, then that is an insufficient basis for
      conviction. Circumstances merely causing a suspicion of guilt are not
      sufficient to justify a conviction of crime.

Doc. 290 at 12. Peralta argues that the district court erred in failing to give this

instruction because without it the court’s charge to the jury “did not explain that

speculation, suspicion, or a guess is an insufficient basis for conviction.”

Appellant’s Brief at 17. The government concedes that Peralta’s requested

instruction was a correct statement of law but argues that it was already

substantially covered by the court’s instruction on reasonable doubt. We agree

with the government.

      Although the district court refused to give Peralta’s requested instruction, it

instructed the jury that it had to find Peralta guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,

which it defined as “a real doubt based on your reason and common sense after you

have carefully and impartially considered all of the evidence in the case.” Doc.

290 at 5. The court further explained that “‘[p]roof beyond a reasonable doubt’ is

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proof so convincing that you would be willing to rely and act on it without

hesitation in the most important of your own affairs.” Id. Under the given

instruction the jury was precluded from convicting Peralta based only on

“suspicion, a possibility, speculation, or a guess.” Id. at 12.

The subject matter of Peralta’s requested jury instruction was therefore

substantially covered by the court’s instruction on reasonable doubt. Paradies, 98
F.3d at 1286.

      Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Peralta’s

requested supplemental jury instruction.

B.    The District Court Properly Denied the Motion for Judgment of
      Acquittal Because Sufficient Evidence Supported Peralta’s Conviction.

      Peralta also argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for a

judgment of acquittal because the district court failed to establish, beyond a

reasonable doubt, that he was guilty of conspiring with the co-defendants listed in

the indictment. He argues that he was arrested and charged after committing a

crime in Georgia, and there was no evidence that he conspired with the Pouncy

gang in Alabama. He further argued that he could not have conspired with a

government agent, the UCE.

      We review de novo the district court’s denial of a judgment of acquittal on

sufficiency-of-evidence grounds, considering the evidence in the light most

favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences as well as

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credibility determinations in the government’s favor. United States v. Capers, 708
F.3d 1286, 1296 (11th Cir. 2013). We may not overturn a jury’s verdict “if any

reasonable construction of the evidence would have allowed the jury to find the

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 1297 (internal quotation marks

omitted). Circumstantial evidence may be used to establish an element of a crime,

even if the jury could draw more than one reasonable inference from the

circumstantial evidence. United States v. Henry, 920 F.2d 875, 877 (11th Cir.

1991). Applying this standard of review, we conclude that the evidence was

sufficient to support Peralta’s conviction.

      To sustain a conviction for conspiracy with intent to distribute, the

government must prove that an agreement existed between two or more persons to

violate the narcotics laws, the defendant knew of the conspiratorial goal, and he

knowingly joined or participated in the illegal venture. United States v. Guerrero,

935 F.2d 189, 192 (11th Cir. 1991). The existence of such an agreement may be

proved by either direct or circumstantial evidence. Id. (citation and internal

quotation marks omitted). The government does not have to prove that the alleged

conspirator knew all of the details of the conspiracy or that he participated in every

phase of the scheme. United States v. Orr, 825 F.2d 1537, 1543 (11th Cir. 1987).

The government may establish a defendant’s knowing participation in the

conspiracy through proof of surrounding circumstances, such as acts committed by

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the defendant that furthered the purpose of the conspiracy. United States v.

Iglesias, 915 F.2d 1524, 1527 (11th Cir. 1990). Further, a common purpose and

plan may be inferred from the circumstances. United States v. McDowell, 250 F.3d
1354, 1365 (11th Cir. 2001).

       Here, the government presented sufficient evidence to support Peralta’s

conviction. First, the government established at trial the existence of an agreement

between Peralta and Rubalcava to distribute methamphetamine. Peralta worked

with Rubalcava to distribute the drug, as evidenced by his coordination of and

presence at the third controlled purchase by the UCE.3 Peralta’s direct

participation in the third transaction was also evidence that he knew of the

conspiratorial goals. Peralta’s knowing participation in the conspiracy was further

evidenced by circumstantial evidence presented at trial; specifically, the numerous

wire transfers Peralta made to Mexico—where Rubalcava was based. Peralta

transferred approximately $44,042.77 to Mexico in 55 money transfers—all under

the threshold that triggers the requirement of additional identifying information for

the sender. A jury could have inferred from the large sum of money he transferred

that Peralta played a larger role in the conspiracy beyond the single transaction.

       3
         Peralta argues that the UCE’s identification of Peralta at the third purchase was
unreliable, however, it is exclusively the jury’s role to determine the credibility of witnesses. See
United States v. Clay, 832 F.3d 1259, 1294 (11th Cir. 2016).
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      The government also established at trial that Rubalcava, who was based in

Mexico, supplied the Pouncy gang with methamphetamine, which was picked up

in Atlanta and then sold in Enterprise. Peralta’s participation in the third

transaction with the UCE was conducted in the same manner as the transactions

involving the Pouncy gang. In fact, the code used by the UCE in one of the

Atlanta transactions, “alazan,” was the same code used by the Pouncy gang in one

of their transactions. The government established that both the Pouncy gang and

the UCE had ties to the confidential source, May, who was responsible for

recruiting new methamphetamine buyers for Rubalcava. May had recruited both

the Pouncy gang and the UCE. The UCE then, in one of his transactions, received

the methamphetamine directly from Peralta.

      A jury could have inferred from all of this information that Peralta and the

Pouncy gang were all members of the same overall conspiracy to distribute

methamphetamine. The government is not required to prove that Peralta knew all

of the details of the conspiracy or all of its members or that he participated in every

phase of the scheme. See Orr, 825 F.2d at 1543.

      Accordingly, there was sufficient evidence to establish that Peralta

knowingly engaged in acts that furthered the purpose of the overall conspiracy. Id.

The district court thus did not err in denying Peralta’s motion for judgment of

acquittal.

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C.    The Middle District of Alabama Was a Proper Venue.

      Having established that there was sufficient evidence of Peralta’s conviction,

we turn to his argument that the Middle District of Alabama was an improper

venue for his criminal proceedings. Here, Peralta again argues that he was not part

of the Pouncy conspiracy and that he did not commit any illegal act in the Middle

District of Alabama. Therefore, he argues, venue was improper in the Middle

District of Alabama.

      The United States Constitution guarantees, in two places, that a criminal

defendant has a right to be tried in a proper venue. United States v. Cabrales, 524
U.S. 1, 6 (1998); see U.S. Const. art. III, § 2, cl. 3; U.S. Const. amend. VI.

However, an offense that was “committed in more than one district” can be

prosecuted “in any district in which such offense was begun, continued, or

completed.” 18 U.S.C. § 3237.

      In a conspiracy case, venue is proper in any district where an overt act was

committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. Smith, 918 F.2d 1551,

1557 (11th Cir. 1990). The government must support its choice of venue by a

preponderance of the evidence. Id. We review a challenge to venue in the light

most favorable to the government, making all reasonable inferences and credibility

choices in favor of the jury verdict when deciding whether the government has

proved by a preponderance of the evidence that an offense occurred in the trial

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district. United States v. Burroughs, 830 F.2d 1574, 1580 (11th Cir. 1987)

(citation omitted). In a conspiracy case, the overt act need not be committed by the

defendant for venue to be proper because the “acts of accomplices and unindicted

co-conspirators can also expose the defendant to jurisdiction.” United States v.

Matthews, 168 F.3d 1234, 1246 (11th Cir. 1999), opinion amended on denial of

reh’g sub nom. United States v. Moore, 181 F.3d 1205 (11th Cir. 1999). The fact

that most of the conspiracy’s activity took place in a venue other than the one

chosen for trial does not destroy venue. Id.

      As discussed above, the government presented at trial sufficient evidence

that Peralta was a member of the conspiracy with Rubalcava to distribute

methamphetamine, including by the Pouncy gang in Enterprise. Viewing all

reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of the jury’s verdict, we

cannot say that no overt acts furthering the conspiracy occurred in the Middle

District of Alabama. The evidence at trial established that members of the Pouncy

gang coordinated with Rubalcava for the purchase of methamphetamine on at least

two occasions. Members of the Pouncy gang picked up the methamphetamine in

Atlanta that had been supplied by Rubalcava and then distributed it in Enterprise.

Rubalcava also informed the UCE that he supplied drugs in Enterprise and made

deliveries of methamphetamine in Atlanta.

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      Thus, as a member of the conspiracy, Peralta was exposed to jurisdiction

where other conspirators were exposed to jurisdiction. Matthews, 168 F.3d at

1246. Accordingly, the Middle District of Alabama was not an improper venue.

                              III.   CONCLUSION

      For the above reasons, we affirm Peralta’s conviction and sentence.

      AFFIRMED.

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