U.S. v. Garcia

Record failed to contain sufficient evidence to support jury’s guilty verdict on drug distribution charge. Gov’t. offered no direct evidence that defendant possessed or controlled drugs, drug paraphernalia, or large quantities of cash, and there was no admission of drug trafficking by defendant nor any testimony from witnesses that defendant distributed cocaine. Moreover, while expert’s interpretation of cryptic phone messages between defendant and known drug dealer purportedly identified drug transaction between both individuals, said evidence was insufficient to establish guilt by reasonable doubt, since there was no corroboration that defendant understood that code words identified by expert were meant to describe cocaine-related activities. (Dissent filed.)