Court Opinion

ID: 9480884
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:01:46.538521+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:47:58.985091
License: Public Domain

HATCHETT, Circuit Judge,
dissenting in part:
Because I am not persuaded that a reasonable jury could have found Iglesias guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion which finds the evidence sufficient. United States v. Lopez, 898 F.2d 1505, 1509 (11th Cir.1990). The only colorable evidence the government offered against Iglesias was the testimony of Agent Keuthan that Iglesias handed a “package or something” to Garcia. Significantly, however, Agent Keuthan admitted that she “could not identify it.” The majority correctly notes that “ ‘[cjlose association with a co-conspirator or mere presence at the scene of the crime is insufficient evidence of knowing participation in a conspiracy.' ” United States v. Weaver, 905 F.2d 1466, 1479 (11th Cir.1990) (quoting United States v. Vera, 701 F.2d 1349, 1357 (11th Cir.1983)). At best, the government’s evidence merely showed that Iglesias associated with some of the persons later indicted.
Further, not only did the government offer insufficient evidence against Iglesias, but the prosecutor, during closing argument, inaccurately summarized the evidence against Iglesias. No testimony supports the prosecutor’s statement that Agent Keuthan testified that Iglesias could have been carrying one of the white burlap sacks containing cocaine. The prosecution’s misstatement of fact regarding the only colorable evidence of guilt presented against Iglesias provides even more reason to conclude that the jury’s verdict is unreasonable.