US v. Jessee Cox
Filing
920100622
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 09-4498
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. JESSEE DANE COX, Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, at Abingdon. James P. Jones, Chief District Judge. (1:07-cr-00032-jpj-pms-8)
Submitted:
April 16, 2010
Decided:
June 22, 2010
Before TRAXLER, Chief Judge, MOTZ, Circuit Judge, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Krysia Carmel Nelson, NELSON & TUCKER, PLC, Charlottesville, Virginia, for Appellant. Timothy J. Heaphy, United States Attorney, Zachary T. Lee, Assistant United States Attorney, Abingdon, Virginia, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM: Jessee Dane Cox appeals from the life sentence imposed following a jury trial on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A), 846 (2006). On appeal, Cox argues that
the district court erred in denying his Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29 motions for acquittal. Finding no reversible
error, we affirm. We review the district court's denial of a Rule 29 motion de novo. Cir. 2005). substantial United States v. Alerre, 430 F.3d 681, 693 (4th
A jury's verdict "must be sustained if there is evidence, taking the view most favorable to the
Government, to support it." 60, 80 (1942). finder
Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. evidence could is "evidence as that a
Substantial of fact
reasonable
accept
adequate
and
sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." Alerre, 430 F.3d at 693 (internal
quotation marks omitted). review the credibility of
We "may not weigh the evidence or the witnesses [because] [t]hose
functions are reserved for the jury."
United States v. Wilson,
118 F.3d 228, 234 (4th Cir. 1997) (internal citation omitted). To prove conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute, the government must prove that: "(1) an agreement to possess [methamphetamine] with 2 intent to distribute existed
between
two
or and
more (3)
persons; the
(2)
the
defendant and
knew
of
the
conspiracy;
defendant
knowingly
voluntarily
became a part of this conspiracy." F.3d 849, 857 (4th Cir. 1996).
United States v. Burgos, 94 Because of its nature, the
existence of a conspiracy is generally proven by circumstantial evidence, which "may consist of a defendant's relationship with other members of the conspiracy, the length of this association, [the defendant's] attitude [and] conduct, and the nature of the conspiracy." Id. at 857-58 (alteration in original) (internal
quotation marks omitted). Cox specifically argues that the evidence presented by the Government at trial varied impermissibly from the indicted conspiracy in that the Government's evidence sought to establish the existence of multiple conspiracies outside the timeframe of the indicted conspiracy. Cox further alleges that he was
prejudiced by the claimed variance. [A] "variance" occurs when the evidence at trial establishes facts materially different from those alleged in the indictment. In a conspiracy prosecution, a defendant may establish the existence of a material variance by showing that the indictment alleged a single conspiracy but that the government's proof at trial established the existence of multiple, separate conspiracies. United States v. Kennedy, 32 F.3d 876, 883 a (4th Cir. 1994)
(internal
citations
omitted).
However,
material
variance
warrants reversal of a conviction only if the variance infringed
3
the defendant's "`substantial rights' and thereby resulted in actual prejudice." Id. A defendant proves actual prejudice by
showing that "there are so many defendants and so many separate conspiracies before the jury that the jury was likely to
transfer evidence from one conspiracy to a defendant involved in an unrelated conspiracy." Id. (internal quotation marks
omitted).
A defendant may also prove prejudice upon a showing
that the variance "surpris[ed] him at trial and hinder[ed] the preparation of his defense" or "expos[ed] him to the danger of a second prosecution for the same offense." United States v.
Randall, 171 F.3d 195, 203 (4th Cir. 1999). We Government's have reviewed did the not record and find vary that from the the
evidence
materially
conspiracy charged in the indictment. Government's verdict when evidence viewed The was in sufficient the light
Further, we find that the to most from support the jury's to the co-
favorable Cox's
Government.
testimony
elicited
alleged
conspirators established the existence of a single conspiracy in the summer of 2006. Cox admitted to distributing
methamphetamine he bought from his alleged co-conspirators that summer in an interview with a police officer investigating the conspiracy. conspirators Moreover, corroborated testimony Cox's from Cox's alleged See co-
admissions.
United
States v. Abu Ali, 528 F.3d 210, 234 (4th Cir. 2008) (stating 4
that "it is a settled principle . . . that a conviction must rest upon firmer ground than the uncorroborated admission or confession of the accused made after commission of a crime") (internal quotation marks omitted). Therefore, we find that the
district court did not err in denying Cox's Rule 29 motion. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. legal before We dispense with oral argument because the facts and contentions the court are and adequately argument presented not in aid the the materials decisional
would
process. AFFIRMED
5
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?