U.S. v. Thomas

Record contained sufficient evidence to support defendant’s conspiracy to distribute heroin conviction, even though defendant claimed that govt. had failed to show that he had any co-conspirator join in instant drug distribution operation. Record indicated that another individual drove defendant to and from Chicago on certain occasions to purchase heroin, and thus assisted him in accomplishing objective of conspiracy. Said individual also rented vehicles for said trips and drove defendant to locations to make drug deliveries. Fact that said individual did not obtain any financial gain arising out of her efforts to assist defendant did not alter her status as co-conspirator. Dist. Ct. also did not commit plain error in finding, as sentence enhancement, that defendant maintained drug house during his drug conspiracy, where witness testified that defendant had certain personal items stored at said house, had hid drugs in television console at said house, had stored large amount of cash in car parked at said house and had processed heroin at said house.