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People v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 14, 1990
161 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)

Opinion

May 14, 1990

Appeal from the County Court, Westchester County (Lange, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant argues that the People failed to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was acting as an agent of the undercover officers. In determining whether a defendant is a seller or merely acting as a procuring agent for the buyer, the following factors must be considered: "(1) did the defendant act as a mere extension of the buyer throughout the relationship, with no independent desire to promote the transaction; (2) was the purchase suggested by the buyer; (3) did the defendant have any previous acquaintance with the seller; (4) did the defendant exhibit any salesmanlike behavior; (5) did the defendant use his own funds; (6) did the defendant procure from many sources for a single buyer; (7) did the buyer pay the seller directly; (8) did the defendant stand to profit; and (9) was any reward promised in advance" (People v. Gonzales, 66 A.D.2d 828; see, People v Torres, 150 A.D.2d 816; People v. Vargas, 135 A.D.2d 853; People v Bethea, 73 A.D.2d 920).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence (CPL 470.15). Although the undercover agents initiated the transaction, the defendant exhibited salesmanlike behavior in his handling of all three transactions, and demonstrated that he was acting out of an independent desire to promote the transaction, and not as a mere extension of the buyers throughout the relationship. Thompson, J.P., Rubin, Rosenblatt and Miller, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 14, 1990
161 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
Case details for

People v. Cruz

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. TOMMY CRUZ, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: May 14, 1990

Citations

161 A.D.2d 659 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
555 N.Y.S.2d 436

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