UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

GUSTAVO ANGUIANO- VELAZQUEZ,

Defendant-Appellant.

No. 98-4005

(D.C. No. 97-CR-159-2)

(District of Utah)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before PORFILIO, KELLY, and HENRY, Circuit Judges.

A jury convicted Gustavo Anguiano-Velazquez of two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine (counts I and II) and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (count III), all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez directly appeals all three convictions, arguing that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support the jury's verdict. We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm all three convictions.

Sufficiency of the evidence is a question of law we review de novo. United States v. Wilson, 107 F.3d 774, 778 (10th Cir. 1997). We will deem evidence sufficient to support a conviction if, viewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez argues, particularly with regard to count III, that the evidence fails to establish that he possessed the methamphetamine. However, as the operative charge is aiding and abetting rather than possession, the evidence need only show that Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez "willfully associate[d] with the criminal venture and aid[ed] such venture through affirmative action." United States v. Jones, 44 F.3d 860, 869 (10th Cir. 1995). Although evidence of "relatively slight moment" will support a conviction for aiding and abetting, the government must do more than show that the defendant was present at the scene of the crime before we will uphold such a conviction. See id. (quotation omitted).

Here, the evidence was more than sufficient to demonstrate that Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez was a knowing and active participant in all of the drug transactions underlying the three convictions. The evidence showed that Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez acted as an intermediary between the purchaser and the dealer, ensuring that each of the methamphetamine purchases was completed. He played a significant role in arranging all three transactions, placing numerous phone calls to the dealer and the purchaser to establish the time, place, amount of drugs involved, and purchase price for each transaction. In each transaction, he designated his apartment as the site of drug delivery. He arranged a face-to-face meeting between the two principles to set up the third and final transaction. And the government introduced testimony (which, although disputed by Mr. Anguiano- Velazquez, we must credit on appeal, see United States v. Alvarez, 142 F.3d 1243, 1249 (10th Cir. 1998)) that in each of the other two transactions, he physically made the purchases, buying the drugs with the purchaser's money and subsequently delivering them to her.

Accordingly, we hereby AFFIRM Mr. Anguiano-Velazquez's convictions.

Entered for the Court,

Robert H. Henry

Circuit Judge