Court Opinion

ID: 3061246
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 00:46:08.130809+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:35:02.022696
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

                        IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                               FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT           FILED
                                ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                       No. 10-11857                 FEB 16, 2011
                                                                     JOHN LEY
                                   Non-Argument Calendar               CLERK
                                 ________________________

                          D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00413-RAL-AEP-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

lllllllllllllllllllll                                                    Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                          versus

ROGELIO ZARCO PEREZ,

lllllllllllllllllllll                                              Defendant-Appellant.

                                ________________________

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

                                     (February 16, 2011)

Before BLACK, MARTIN and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
       Rogelio Perez appeals his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance

of a drug trafficking offense, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).1 Perez argues the district court

erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal on the sole basis the

evidence used to convict him was insufficient.2 Specifically, Perez contends the

Government did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt his possession of a 9mm

Smith & Wesson handgun was “in furtherance” of a drug trafficking offense

because “he did not help, promote, or advance the crime in any way.” After

review, we affirm Perez’s conviction.3

       To prove a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), the Government must show the

defendant “(1) knowingly (2) possessed a firearm (3) in furtherance of any drug

trafficking crime for which he could be prosecuted in a court of the United States.”

United States v. Woodard, 531 F.3d 1352, 1362 (11th Cir. 2008). To be “in

       1
        Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five or more
kilograms of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, in violation of 21
U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), and possession with the intent to distribute five or more
kilograms of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, in violation of 21
U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)(ii).
       2
       We need not address Perez’s judgment of acquittal argument based on our finding the
evidence presented at trial was sufficient.
       3
        We review challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence de novo. United States v.
Williams, 527 F.3d 1235, 1244 (11th Cir. 2008). We view “the evidence in the light most
favorable to the government,” resolving “any conflicts in favor of the government and
accept[ing] all reasonable inferences that tend to support the government’s case.” Id. We will
affirm “a conviction if a reasonable trier of fact could find that the evidence established guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (quotation omitted).

                                                 2
furtherance” of the drug trafficking offense, the firearm must have “helped,

furthered, promoted, or advanced the drug trafficking.” Id. (quotation omitted).

We consider several factors to determine whether a firearm was possessed in

furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, including:

      The type of drug activity that is being conducted, accessibility of the
      firearm, the type of the weapon, whether the weapon is stolen, the
      status of the possession (legitimate or illegal), whether the gun is
      loaded, proximity to the drugs or drug profits, and the time and
      circumstances under which the gun is found.

Woodard, 531 F.3d at 1362 (quotation omitted).

      There was sufficient evidence to show Perez possessed a firearm in

furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Perez possessed a loaded 9mm Smith &

Wesson handgun, which was readily accessible on his bedroom night stand.

Further, a drug ledger and between $20,000 and $40,000 in drug proceeds were

found in Perez’s bedroom closet. Lastly, in a barn located 25-50 yards from the

house were 52 kilograms of cocaine and $119,940 in drug proceeds. Because

Perez’s role in the drug trafficking organization was to protect the drugs and drug

profits, a reasonable trier of fact could have determined this evidence showed he

possessed the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. See Williams,

527 F.3d at 1244.

      AFFIRMED.

                                          3