Vargas v. State

Henry Vargas (the “defendant”) appeals his convictions for dealing in stolen property, operating a chop shop, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The defendant argues that the state failed to prove his knowledge of illegal activity and, thus, the trial court erred in denying his motions for judgment of acquittal. We affirm, finding that the state presented sufficient evidence to prove the defendant’s knowledge.

We summarize the state’s evidence as follows. In late 2003, undercover agents in the sheriffs auto theft task force met with the ringleaders of a suspected theft…