United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Louis G. Collazo, Defendant-appellant, 815 F.2d 1138 (7th Cir. 1987)

Louis G. Collazo, the defendant appellant, appeals his conviction of one count of conspiring to receive and unlawfully possess stolen checks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 and two counts of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of four stolen checks in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1708. We affirm.

The facts of this case, stipulated to at trial, are not in dispute.¹  During 1983 and January 1984, Louis G. Collazo was employed by the Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA) operating a photographic identification machine for the production of identification cards for IDPA clients.

Between July 1982 and March 1984, several individuals, one Juan Rosario, together with Pedro Menendez, Luis Santiago, Nereida Serrano, Rona Aillon and Rita Rosales were involved in a conspiracy²  to receive and possess stolen checks.³  Rosario, Menendez and Santiago altered and increased the face value of the checks issued. On four separate occasions Collazo produced fraudulent picture identification cards for various members of the conspiracy to correspond and match the names on the stolen checks. On three separate occasions, at Collazo's direction the false matching identification card he produced was returned to him immediately after securing the funds with a share of the proceeds.⁴ 

The defendant produced false identification cards: (1) on or about July 18, 1983, (2) between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983, (3) on or about November 18, 1983, and (4) on January 11, 1984. The last time Collazo produced and delivered a false identification card to Aillon (a member of the conspiracy), (January 11, 1984), Aillon was arrested after she attempted to cash a stolen check with one of the false identification cards that Collazo had processed. Aillon agreed to cooperate with the police and returned to the IDPA the next day with an undercover agent, who witnessed Aillon pay the defendant $100 for his production of the false identification card the previous day.

As a result of an investigation a sixty-six count indictment was filed against several defendants with Collazo being named in Counts one, thirty, thirty-one, forty-eight and sixty-five. Count one⁵  charged Collazo with conspiring to receive and unlawfully possess stolen checks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.⁶  Counts thirty, thirty-one, forty-eight⁷  and sixty-five charged Collazo with aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of four stolen checks on four separate occasions in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2⁸  and Sec. 1708.⁹ 

Collazo and the prosecutor with the approval of the court stipulated to a bench trial and filed an agreed set of facts upon which the judge decided the case. The presiding judge found Collazo guilty of Counts one (conspiracy to receive and possess stolen checks), forty-eight and sixty-five (aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of stolen checks). Regarding the conspiracy charged in Count one, the trial judge found that Collazo knowingly and intentionally joined the conspiracy to receive and possess stolen checks in that the defendant Collazo " [a]ccommodated the conspirators in their conspiratorial activities by providing them with false welfare identification cards" on four separate occasions. The district court found that Collazo was guilty of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of two stolen checks under the Pinkerton doctrine, (as established in Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 66 S. Ct. 1180, 90 L. Ed. 1489 (1946)), in that he joined the conspiracy between July 29 and August 11, 1983, and was therefore guilty of any and all illegal acts done in furtherance of the conspiracy that transpired after that date.

Collazo raises two issues on appeal: Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict him (1) of conspiring to receive and unlawfully possess stolen checks under 18 U.S.C. § 371, and (2) of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of two stolen checks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and Sec. 1708.

"In order to establish the crime of conspiracy, the government must prove that there was an agreement between two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, that the defendant was a party to the agreement, and that an overt act was committed in furtherance of the agreement by one of the co-conspirators." United States v. Noble, 754 F.2d 1324, 1328 (7th Cir. 1985). Collazo concedes that a conspiracy existed to receive and possess stolen checks. He argues, however, that there is insufficient evidence to establish that he was a participant in the conspiracy. We have previously stated that "Once the Government proves the existence of a conspiracy the Government need only offer 'slight evidence' to prove that an individual was a member of the conspiracy." United States v. Gironda, 758 F.2d 1201, 1217 (7th Cir. 1985).

The trial judge, in finding Collazo guilty of the conspiracy charged in Count one, stated:

"Now, the stipulated evidence, in addition to that stipulation of the conspiracy, demonstrates that on four separate occasions, Mr. Collazo accommodated the conspirators in their conspiratorial activities by providing them with false welfare identification cards.

I believe that the evidence is sufficient for a reasonable mind to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Collazo knowingly and intentionally joined the conspiracy.

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The stipulated facts show beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Louis Collazo knowingly and intentionally joined the conspiracy described in Count 1 of the indictment and thereby became a member of the conspiracy, and is responsible for the acts of the conspiracy."

"When reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence this court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution ..." United States v. Hollins, 811 F.2d 384, 388 (7th Cir. 1987) (citing Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S. Ct. 457, 469, 86 L. Ed. 680 (1942)). Our standard of review in reviewing the trial court's decision is set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979):

" [T]he relevant question is whether, after viewing 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.... This familiar standard gives full play to the responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Once a defendant has been found guilty of the crime charged, the factfinder's role as weigher of the evidence is preserved through a legal conclusion that upon judicial review all of the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable to the prosecution."

443 U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789 (citation omitted) (emphasis in original).

Collazo asserts that since all of his activities took place after the unlawful receipt and possession of the stolen checks had occurred, his conviction of conspiring to receive and possess stolen checks from the United States mails must be reversed. The defendant further argues that he (1) never possessed any of the checks, (2) never exercised any dominion or control over the checks, and (3) had no knowledge that the checks were stolen.

The facts set forth that on four occasions Collazo produced false identification cards for various members of the conspiracy to correspond with the names on checks in the possession and control of the members of the conspiracy. Each time he produced a fraudulent identification card he directed that the false identification card be returned to him as well as a percentage of the money received from the cashing of the same. The defendant Collazo insisted and received cash proceeds from the cashing of the checks three of the four times he provided the false identification. The district judge stated that he had a reasonable doubt as to whether Collazo was a member of the conspiracy the first time he provided a fraudulent identification card. However, the trial court found that Collazo was a knowing member of the conspiracy when the first instance of his improper conduct (on or about July 18, 1983) was combined with the second occasion when he again produced a false identification card (between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983). The trial judge also found that there was a reasonable doubt as to whether Collazo was a member of the conspiracy at the time he produced the second fraudulent identification card (between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983) but that his subsequent acts were done as a member of the conspiracy.

We note in analyzing Collazo's sufficiency claim that " [P]articipation in a criminal conspiracy may be shown through circumstantial evidence ... Circumstantial evidence may include whether the defendant has a stake in the outcome of the conspiracy." United States v. Xheka, 704 F.2d 974, 988 (7th Cir.), cert. denied 464 U.S. 993, 104 S. Ct. 486, 78 L. Ed. 2d 682 (1983) (citations omitted) (emphasis added). In United States v. Marquardt, 786 F.2d 771, 780 (7th Cir. 1986), we stated that " 'circumstantial evidence is of equal probative value to direct evidence.' " (quoting United States v. Towers, 775 F.2d 184, 188 (7th Cir. 1985)). In addition, " [a] single act is enough evidence if the circumstances permit the inference that the act was 'intended to advance the ends of the conspiracy.' " United States v. Silva, 781 F.2d 106, 109 (7th Cir. 1986) (quoting Xheka, 704 F.2d at 989) (emphasis added). Finally, the Supreme Court has stated that: "Participation in a criminal conspiracy need not be proved by direct evidence; a common purpose and plan may be inferred from a 'development and collocation of circumstances'." Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S. Ct. 457, 469, 86 L. Ed. 680 (1942) (quoting United States v. Manton, 107 F.2d 834, 839 (2d Cir. 1939)).

On four different occasions, Collazo produced fraudulent photographic identification cards at the request of members of the conspiracy to correspond with the names inscribed as the payees on the checks. Each time Collazo produced a false identification card upon request he ordered that the recipient of the same return a share of the illegally obtained funds to him as well as the fraudulently issued identification card. On three of the occasions after he produced a false identification card upon request of members of the conspiracy the record reflects he received payments of $80, $100, and $100 for a sum total of $280. In furnishing the false identification cards to the members of the conspiracy Collazo provided the identification necessary for the cashing of the stolen checks and received a percentage of the proceeds therefrom. He actively assisted and participated in the overall conspiracy as charged to receive and possess stolen checks. Collazo thus participated in the continuation of the scheme, for without the false identification cards the conspirators would have been unable to cash the stolen cheeks. His actions in producing the false identification cards were unarguably "intended to advance the ends of the conspiracy." See United States v. Xheka, 704 F.2d 974, 989 (7th Cir. 1983) (quoting United States v. Mancillas, 580 F.2d 1301, 1308 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 958, 99 S. Ct. 361, 58 L. Ed. 2d 351 (1978)). Further, Collazo had a financial interest and stake in the conspiracy in that he received a share of the funds obtained from the cashing of the "raised" checks.

In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution we hold there was ample evidence for the trial judge to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Collazo joined and actively participated in the crime of conspiracy to receive and possess checks stolen from the United States mail.¹⁰ III.

Collazo also argues that there was insufficient evidence for the trial judge to convict him of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of two of the stolen checks (charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five). Collazo asserts the trial court erred in finding him guilty of aiding and abetting in the illegal possession of stolen checks, when, according to Collazo's interpretation, the evidence demonstrates that he initially dealt with the checks only after the act of unlawful possession of the checks was completed. The defendant's argument overlooks the fact that the members of the conspiracy were still in possession of the fraudulent checks when they displayed them to him in order that he might produce the matching fraudulent identification cards, and further, the members of the conspiracy continued to possess the fraudulent instruments and did not relinquish possession until such time as they passed them.

As with the first issue our standard of review is whether " [a]ny 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, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in original).

The district court based its finding of Collazo's guilt of aiding and abetting charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five upon the Pinkerton doctrine derived from the Supreme Court case of Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 66 S. Ct. 1180, 90 L. Ed. 1489 (1946).¹¹ 

In Pinkerton the Supreme Court held that if a conspiracy is found to exist of which the defendant is a member he may be held responsible for the substantive offenses committed by his co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy.

This circuit has interpreted Pinkerton as holding " [t]hat evidence of being part of a conspiracy would be sufficient to support conviction of substantive offenses committed in furtherance of the conspiracy." United States v. Varelli, 407 F.2d 735, 749 (7th Cir. 1969). In United States v. Covelli, 738 F.2d 847, 858 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 867, 105 S. Ct. 211, 83 L. Ed. 2d 141 (1984) this court stated "Under Pinkerton ' [o]nce the conspiracy and the defendant's knowing participation in it have been established beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant will be held vicariously liable for the furtherance of the conspiracy by his co-conspirators.' " (quoting United States v. Sampol, 636 F.2d 621, 676 (D.C. Cir. 1980)).

The trial judge found Collazo guilty of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of checks alleged in Counts forty-eight (on or about November 18, 1983) and sixty-five (on January 11, 1984) but not guilty of Counts thirty (on or about July 18, 1983) and thirty-one (between July 29 and August 11, 1983) since there was a reasonable doubt that Collazo was a member of the conspiracy at the time the offenses charged in Counts thirty and thirty-one occurred, stating:

"I would have difficulty in finding that the single act on the 18th of July of 1983, which is described in Count 30--that it was that event that, at that point, he had become a member of the conspiracy.

Now, we look back and we--as I say, we look at the totality of the evidence. But under the Pinkerton Doctrine, he must be a member of the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt at the time the offenses in furtherance of the conspiracy are committed.

And I have a reasonable doubt as to whether he joined the conspiracy on the 18th of July of 1983.

On the period of time alleged in Count 31, between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983, the transaction alleged in Count 31, when combined with the transaction alleged in Count 30, persuades me beyond a reasonable doubt that at that point, he became a knowing, wilful and intentional member of the conspiracy.

But I have some doubt as to whether he was a member of the conspiracy at the time Santiago, Serrano and Martinez came into possession of the check alleged in Count 31.

So I'm going to find him not guilty of Count 31.

But by the time 48 and 65 come along, at this point he has become, prior to those transactions, and he is then a knowing, wilful, intentional member of the conspiracy, and he is vicariously liable for the offenses committed by his co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy."

The district court found that the substantive offenses charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five were committed: (1) by members of the conspiracy, (2) while Collazo was a member of the conspiracy, and (3) pursuant to and in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Since the stipulated facts establish that members of the conspiracy committed the substantive offenses charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five pursuant to the conspiracy, the only question we must address is whether the evidence was sufficient to find Collazo to be a member of the conspiracy at the time the acts were committed. The trial court properly found that a reasonable doubt existed as to whether Collazo was a member of the conspiracy at the time the substantive offenses in Counts thirty (on or about July 18, 1983) and thirty-one (between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983) took place. We hold the district court also properly found that when considering Collazo's activities on those two occasions together (production of false identification cards, his request that the cards he produced be returned with a share of the proceeds, and his receipt of $80 on one of the occasions) they establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he joined the conspiracy between July 29, 1983 and August 11, 1983; thus we hold the trial court properly held Collazo to have aided and abetted the offenses charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five of the indictment.

We hold the district court properly found Collazo guilty of conspiring to receive and possess stolen checks as alleged in Count one of the indictment. His production on four separate occasions of the false identification cards for the members of the conspiracy provided the necessary means for the other members of the conspiracy to establish their identity and thus cash the stolen checks. Thus it is clear that Collazo actively assisted and participated in the conspiracy to receive and possess stolen checks while having a financial stake (a share of the proceeds of the cashing of the stolen checks) in the continuation of the fraudulent scheme. We also hold that the trial court properly found Collazo guilty of aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of checks charged in Counts forty-eight and sixty-five of the indictment since Collazo was a member of the conspiracy at the time these checks were stolen.

AFFIRMED.