United States v. Ernest Chrzaszcz

528 F. App'x 720

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: June 17, 2013
• Docket: 12-10102
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

Ernest Chrzaszcz appeals his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A), and his convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

Chrzaszcz argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict. We review claims of insufficient evidence de novo. United States v. Duran, 189 F.3d 1071, 1078 (9th Cir.1999). The dis-positive question is whether, construing the evidence “in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). “To establish a drug conspiracy, the govern ment must prove: 1) an agreement to accomplish an illegal objective; and 2) the intent to commit the underlying offense.” United States v. Iriarte-Ortega, 113 F.3d 1022, 1024 (9th Cir.1997), amended by 127 F.3d 1200 (9th Cir.1997). To prove possession with intent to distribute, the government must show that “the defendant (1) knowingly (2) possessed the [drug] (3) with intent to distribute it.” United States v. Mora, 876 F.2d 76, 77 (9th Cir.1989).

Chrzaszcz was apprehended as the passenger of a truck carrying large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. He asserts that the only evidence that he was aware of the truck’s cargo was a coconspir-ator’s “bare assertion that ‘he knew.’ ” We reject Chrzaszcz’s characterization of the evidence. Two coconspirators confirmed that Chrzaszcz knew of the drugs in the truck. One of these coconspirators testified that he personally discussed drug trafficking plans with Chrzaszcz. The government also introduced a recorded phone conversation in which Chrzaszcz discussed cocaine prices with a coconspirator and testimony from law enforcement officers who observed Chrzaszcz taking delivery of marijuana several days prior to his arrest, among other evidence.

Viewing the evidence presented at trial in the light most favorable to the government, we conclude that the jury could have rationally concluded that the government proved each of the essential elements of the charged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781.

AFFIRMED.

*** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.