United States v. Trejo, No. 15-3016 (8th Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CaseDefendant was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, but was acquitted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court concluded that sufficient evidence exists to support the jury's guilty verdict against defendant on the conspiracy to distribute charge. Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying defendant’s motion for acquittal. The court also concluded that, because the evidence at trial was sufficient to establish that defendant either had actual knowledge of the methamphetamine or deliberately failed to inquire about it, the willful blindness instruction was appropriate. Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in giving the jury a deliberate ignorance instruction. The court affirmed the judgment.
Court Description: Shepherd, Author, with Chief Judge Riley and Loken, Circuit Judges] Criminal Case - conviction. Sufficient evidence supported conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine even though jury acquitted on charge of possession with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. District court did not err in denying motion for acquittal of conspiracy conviction. District court did not abuse its discretion in giving deliberate ignorance or willful blindness instruction, as there was evidence to support the inference that she either had actual knowledge of the methamphetamine or deliberately failed to inquire about it.
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