Court Opinion

ID: 11356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 06:03:54+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:09.752628
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                  FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                                 No. 95-20979

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                                             Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                                     versus

SANTOS BALVINO MALDONADO,

                                                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                               Appeal from the United States District Court
                                   for the Southern District of Texas
                                           (CR-H-95-0040-1)

                                  February 7, 1997
Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, WIENER, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

CARL E. STEWART, Circuit Judge:*

        Federal agents arrested Santos Balvino Maldonado (“Maldonado”) when they entered his

home under an arrest warrant for an unrelated matter and discovered, pursuant to a consensual

search, 4.2 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and $5,339. The agents also found, among other

things, baking soda, a razor blade, a glass beaker and salt—items known to be associated with the

manufacturing of crack cocaine. Maldonado appeals his jury conviction of possession with the intent

to distribute crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(c) on the ground that the

        *
         Pursuant to Local Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not
precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in Local Rule 47.5.4.
evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. Specifically, Maldonado asserts that the evidence

presented at trial was insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he “intended to

distribute” crack cocaine. Maldonado further asserts that the evidence merely proved that he was a

user of crack cocaine. We agree. For the following reasons, we reverse Maldonado's conviction,

vacate his sentence and remand to the district court with instructions to enter a judgment of guilty

of simple possession under 21 U.S.C. 844(a) and for resentencing for that offense.

                                         BACKGROUND

       On May 25, 1994, Santos Balvino Maldonado, a native of El Salvador, was arrested at his

apartment and charged with conspiracy to cause the escape of a federal prisoner. During his arrest,

Maldonado, who was alone in his apartment, consented to a search of his apartment. During the

consensual search, federal authorities found the following items in the kitchen of Maldonado’s

apartment: a plate containing over twenty-five (25) pieces of crack cocaine weighing 4.2 grams, a

razor blade, a Pyrex glass beaker, an empty film canister, a pair of gloves, baking soda and salt. Also

“discovered” in the kitchen of Maldonado’s apartment were a microwave oven and stove. In a

credenza located in the bedroom of Maldonado’s apartment, federal authorities discovered $5,339

in the following denominations: $275 cashier’s check, three $100 dollar bills, two $50 dollar bills and

numerous $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills wrapped with rubber bands.

       Prior to the search of Maldonado’s apartment, there was no evidence that Maldonado was

involved in the sale of cocaine. In fact, Maldonado was being investigated solely in relation to the

charge of conspiracy to cause the escape of a federal prisoner. At trial, United States Marshal Rey

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Cestero testified that Maldonado had allegedly been recruited to assist in the escape of Jairo Patino

and Virgilio Reyes from the Montgomery County Jail. Patino, unaware that Cestero was working

undercover, telephoned Cestero and informed him that the escape vehicle, a van, would be delivered

on May 24, 1994. According to Cestero’s testimony , $5,000 in cash was to be provided to an

unnamed “Salvadorian” who was assisting in the planned escape. Cestero testified that the money

was to be delivered in Philadelphia and would mainly consist of $50 or $100 bills. Cestero did not

know, however, if the money was ever paid.

       After Patino and Reyes pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, the government dismissed

that charge against Maldonado and subsequently charged Maldonado with possession with the intent

to distribute cocaine. After two unsuccessful motions for judgment of acquittal, Maldonado was

convicted by jury and sentenced to seventy-one (71) months imprisonment followed by three (3) years

supervised release. Maldonado appeals his conviction on the sole ground that the evidence is

insufficient to support his conviction. We reverse.

                                          DISCUSSION

Standard of Review

       We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence by viewing the evidence in the light

most favorable to the verdict. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). We affirm if a rational

trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

“If a reasonable jury would doubt whether the evidence proves an essential element, [this court] must

reverse.” U.S. v. Onick, 889 F.2d 1425, 1428 (5th Cir. 1989). All credibility determinations and

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reasonable inferences are to be resolved in favor of the jury’s verdict. U.S. v. Nguyen, 28 F.3d 477,

480 (5th Cir. 1994). Thus, the court should not concern itself with the correctness of the jury verdict;

rather, the decision for the court is whet her the finding of guilt is reasonable under all the

circumstances. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318-319.

A. Intent to Distribute.

       In this appeal we must resolve one question: whether the evidence adduced was sufficient to

prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, Maldonado’s intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine). To

establish a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), “the government must prove knowing possession of

the contraband with intent to distribute.” U.S. v. Skipper, 74 F.3d 608, 611 (5th Cir. 1996)(citing

to United States v. Cardenas, 9 F.3d 1139, 1158 (5th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 114 S.Ct.

2150, 128 L.Ed.2d 876 (1994)). Proof of “intent to distribute” does not require the presence of a

certain minimum quantity of controlled substance. U.S. v. Harrison, 55 F.3d 163, 165 (5th Cir.),

cert. denied, 116 S. Ct. 324 (1995). Possession of a quantity of drugs consistent with personal use,

however, does not by itself raise an inference of intent to distribute such drugs. Skipper, 74 F.3d at

611. Thus, in the absence of additional evidence such as distribution paraphernalia, large quantities

of cash or the value and quality of the substance, mere possession of an amount consistent with

personal use does not support a finding of intent to distribute. Id.

       Here, Maldonado argues that the evidence seized from the kitchen and bedroom of his

apartment is insufficient to establish the “intent to distribute” element of the crime charged, for the

following reasons: (1) the quantity of crack cocaine seized is consistent with personal use; (2) the

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$5,339 in seized cash is not “unexplained” but is related to another crime; (3) the lack of evidence

of prior drug sales by Maldonado and (4) the lack of drug paraphernalia commonly associated with

street distribution.

        The government concedes that the quantity of crack cocaine seized is consistent with personal

use but argues that it presented other evidence of intent to distribute. Namely, the government argues

that Maldonado’s intent to distribute crack cocaine is evidenced by: (1) the form of the crack

cocaine—cut into twenty-five rocks—is consistent with street distribution; (2) testimony that the

amount of crack was greater than what a typical user wo uld have at a given time; (3) that

Maldonado’s kitchen was a crude laboratory for making crack cocaine; (4) the absence of smoking

paraphernalia and (5) the presence of a large amount of cash in denominations consistent with street

distribution. We find the government’s argument unpersuasive.

        In Skipper, we rejected the government’s argument that the presence of a straight-edged razor

and the absence of smoking paraphernalia suggested the defendant intended to distribute crack

cocaine. Skipper, 74 F.3d at 611. Paraphernalia that could be consistent with personal use does not

provide a sound basis for inferring intent to distribute. Id. Thus, despite testimony that 2.89 grams

of crack cocaine suggested street distribution, we held, as a matter of law, that such amount alone

was insufficient to prove intent to distribute.1 Id.

        1
         See also, U.S. v. Stephens, 23 F.3d 553,555 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.
Ct. 522, 130 L.Ed.2d 427 (1994)(holding possession of 5.9 grams of crack cocaine could not support
an inference of intent even when combined with testimony that such amount is more than what an
addict would buy for his personal use).

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       The evidence in this case is that Maldonado possessed a razor blade and no smoking

paraphernalia was found by the agents in his apartment. This evidence, along with the 4.2 grams of

crack cocaine, is not inconsistent with personal use and thus cannot support a finding of intent to

distribute. Furthermore, Drug Enforcement Administration agent Charles S. Davis acknowledged

at trial that a crack user can either buy crack cocaine or buy powdered cocaine and convert it into

crack. Thus, the fact that Maldonado’s kitchen was allegedly used as a “crude laboratory” to make

cocaine is not inconsistent with personal use. We also disagree with the government’s argument that

the form and quantity of the crack cocaine—4.2 grams cut into 25 rocks—indicates street

distribution. Although agent Davis opined that the amount of rocks seized was more than what a

typical user would have at any given time, he essentially acknowledged that this rock form is

consistent with the form a typical smoker uses. Finally, there was no testimony as to how many rocks

a user can smoke in a given day. Standing alone, this evidence is not inconsistent with personal use.

       We now address the large amount of cash seized and the lack of any evidence linking

Maldonado to prior drug sales. Possession of drugs coupled with additional evidence such as large

quantities of cash may support an inference of intent to distribute. Skipper, 74 F.3d at 611. “A

defendant’s possession of a large sum of unexplained cash supports an inference of intent to

distribute, [however], only insofar as it suggests that the defendant is toting the profits from prior

narcotics sales.” U.S. v. Stephens, 23 F.3d 553, 555 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115

S.Ct. 522, 130 L. Ed.2d 427 (1994)(emphasis added). In Stephens, a case relied on by Maldonado,

the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the government’s contention that $511 in cash found on

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the defendant’s person at the time of the arrest established the defendant’s intent to distribute. Id.

at 556. The Stephens court, finding that the cash was not “unexplained,” noted government

testimony acknowledged that the amount of cash seized could have been expected to pay for the

drugs and that the defendant was seen offering such money to a dealer. Id. The government also

offered no evidence of actual prior or contemporaneous drug sales by the defendant without which,

the court held, “would be mere speculation for a jury to infer that the [money] recovered . . . were

proceeds from prior drug [sales] indicative of his future intent to distribute.” Id.

       In this case, the government offered no evidence of prior drug sales by Maldonado. Moreover,

there was plausible evidence explaining the $5,339 in cash seized in Maldonado’s apartment. U.S.

Marshal Cestero testified that Maldonado, a Salvadorian, was allegedly recruited to assist in the

escape of two federal prisoners—Jairo Patino and Virgilio Reyes—and that an unnamed

“Salvadorian” was to receive $5,000 for assisting in the escape. Cestero also testified that the money

would consist mainly of $50 and $100 dollar bills. This evidence negates the government’s argument

that the cash found in Maldonado’s apartment is evidence of intent to distribute. We hold, therefore,

that the cash is insufficient additional evidence to support Maldonado’s conviction of possession with

intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(c).

B. Lesser Included Offense: Simple Possession 21 U.S.C. 844(a).

       Our next task is to determine whether the evidence supports a conviction for a lesser included

offense. Simple possession in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a) is a lesser included offense 21 U.S.C.

§ 841(a)(1), possession with intent to distribute. U.S. v. Steen, 55 F.3d 1022, 1031 (5th Cir.), cert.

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denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S. Ct. 577, 133 L.Ed.2d 500 (1995). Possession may be either actual or

constructive. Skipper, 74 F.3d at 611. Constructive possession is defined as ownership, dominion

or control over the contraband or vehicle or dwelling in which the contraband was concealed. See

id.

        In addition to Maldonado’s concession, there is ample evidence that he is guilty of simple

possession in violation of 21 U.S.C. 844(a). The evidence adduced at trial showed that the

contraband was discovered and seized in Maldonado’s apartment in which he was found alone. Thus,

“[b]ecause the jury necessarily found all the elements of simple possession in rendering its verdict,

[this court] is empowered under 28 U.S.C. § 2106 to reduce [Maldonado’s] Section 841 conviction

to a Section 844 conviction.” Skipper, 74 F.3d at 612.

                                         CONCLUSION

        After reviewing all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict; we find

insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that the government proved all essential elements

of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence adduced was insufficient to support

a conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocai ne under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

Accordingly, we reverse the conviction, vacate the sentence and remand with instructions to enter

a judgment of guilty of simple possession under 21 U.S.C. § 844 (a) and to resentence Maldonado

for that offense.

        Conviction REVERSED, sentence VACATED and cause REMANDED WITH

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INSTRUCTIONS.

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