The following excerpt is from United States v. Sebbern, 14-3211 (L), 14-3226 (Con) (2nd Cir. 2015):
In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, defendants "bear[ ] a heavy burden," as our "standard of review is exceedingly deferential." United States v. Coplan, 703 F.3d 46, 62 (2d Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). In particular, "we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, crediting every inference that could have been drawn in the Government's favor, and deferring to the jury's assessment of witness credibility and its assessment of the weight of the evidence." United States v. Brock, 789 F.3d 60, 63 (2d Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Although sufficiency review is de novo, we will uphold the judgments of conviction if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). We owe particular deference to the jury's findings in a conspiracy case. See United States v. Santos, 541 F.3d 63, 70 (2d Cir. 2008).
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