United States v. Mendez

• Decision Date: 20 June 1974
• Docket Number: No. 73-3186.,73-3186.
• Citation: 496 F.2d 128
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jesus MENDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

496 F.2d 128 (1974)

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jesus MENDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 73-3186.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

June 20, 1974.

Harry F. Maddin, Corpus Christi, Tex. (Court-appointed), for defendant-appellant.

Anthony J. P. Farris, U. S. Atty., James R. Gough, Asst. U. S. Atty., Anna E. Stool, Staff Atty., Houston, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before GEWIN, THORNBERRY and SIMPSON, Circuit Judges.

THORNBERRY, Circuit Judge:

Appellant Jesus Mendez was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and 18 U.S.C. § 2. We reverse and remand for a new trial because of improper admission of particularly damaging testimony.

The essential elements of a conspiracy are an agreement by two or more persons to commit an offense against the United States followed by an overt act committed by one of the conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. Sutherland, 5 Cir. 1972, 463 F.2d 641, cert. denied, 1972, 409 U.S. 1078, 93 S.Ct. 698, 34 L.Ed.2d 668; United States v. Lowry, 5 Cir. 1972, 456 F.2d 341. A conspiracy cannot be committed by a single individual acting alone; he must act in concert with at least one other person. Herman v. United States, 5 Cir. 1961, 289 F.2d 362, cert. denied, 1961, 368 U.S. 897, 82 S.Ct. 174, 7 L.Ed.2d 93. Participation in a criminal conspiracy may be shown by circumstantial as well as direct evidence. Wilson v. United States, 5 Cir. 1963, 320 F.2d 493. No formal agreement between the parties is essential to the formation of a conspiracy, for the agreement may be shown by concerted action, all the parties working together understandingly with a single design for the accomplishment of a common purpose. Beland v. United States, 5 Cir. 1938, 100 F.2d 289, cert. denied, 1939, 306 U.S. 636, 59 S.Ct. 485, 83 L.Ed. 1037. However, mere knowledge, acquiescence or approval without cooperation or agreement to cooperate is not enough to constitute one a party to a conspiracy. McDaniel v. United States, 5 Cir. 1928, 24 F.2d 303. In order to fasten guilt on one accused of being a co-conspirator it is necessary to prove that he actively participated in the conspiracy charged. Young v. United States, 5 Cir. 1931, 48 F.2d 26. Mere association with conspirators is not enough to establish participation in the conspiracy. Roberts v. United States, 5 Cir. 1969, 416 F.2d 1216.

At trial the government was permitted to introduce evidence of a telephone conversation between Special Agent Horacio Ayala of the Drug Enforcement Administration and a woman who identified herself as the defendant's wife.¹ This evidence was highly damaging to Mendez, since Ayala testified that Mrs. Mendez told him that Mendez was not at home because he was then importing marijuana from Mexico across the Rio Grande River into Texas.² The evidence regarding Mrs. Mendez's statements was hearsay but was admitted under the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule. See United States v. Apollo, 5 Cir. 1973, 476 F.2d 156; Rogers v. United States, 5 Cir. 1964, 334 F.2d 83. The only evidence linking Mrs. Mendez to any conspiracy, however, was the conversation itself and the fact that she was present during some of Mendez's drug transactions in Nebraska. There is nothing to show that she was cooperating with him or had agreed to do so. There was no showing of active participation on her part, nor did the evidence tend to show concerted action for the accomplishment of a common purpose. The evidence at most shows her association with Mendez and knowledge of his activities. It is therefore insufficient to establish that she was a co-conspirator. That being true, the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule was improperly invoked. The hearsay evidence of her telephone conversation with Ayala should have been excluded. Montford v. United States, 5 Cir. 1952, 200 F.2d 759. See generally, Note, Evidence — Hearsay — Co-conspirator's Exception — How Much...