Appellants Humberto Hinojosa and Carlos Lerma were both convicted of numerous drug related offenses. Both appellants insist the evidence was insufficient to support their convictions. They also claim the trial judge erred in calculating their sentences. Moreover, Hinojosa individually asserts he should be granted a new trial due to improprieties in the selection of the jury. We find appellants’ arguments unpersuasive and affirm the convictions and sentences.
I. FACTS
Evidence was presented at trial that Carlos Lerma operated numerous businesses in the Houston area as a cover for an elaborate drug operation. One of Lerma’s businesses was an auto paint and body shop. The body shop was run by Humberto Hino-josa who assisted Lerma in stripping down cars brought from Mexico and removing packages of marihuana concealed in the cars. The packages were then boxed and distributed. Much of the drugs was transported to Atlanta, Georgia.
In November 1985, Marion Meadows introduced Steven Miller to Hinojosa. Miller agreed to transport marihuana in his car from Texas to Georgia. Hinojosa supplied approximately 800 pounds of marihuana for the first trip to Atlanta.
Meadows and Miller followed Hinojosa’s truck as they drove to Atlanta in Miller’s car. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Hinojosa told Miller and Meadows to check into a particular hotel. At the hotel, a party unknown to Miller took Miller’s car and Hino-josa’s truck and unloaded the marihuana from the vehicles. Later, money was delivered to the hotel. Miller was instructed to count the money and Hinojosa told him he could keep all the one and five dollar bills. The money totalled approximately $150,-000. Miller and Meadows returned to Texas with the money, and they delivered it to Lerma at his auto body shop.
*627 Through January 1986, Miller made approximately five more trips to Atlanta, taking between 300 and 500 pounds of marihuana each time and returning with the money. The procedures sometimes varied, but the trips always involved the same people. After January of 1986, Miller and Meadows made two or three more trips, but they stopped after Meadows suspected he was under investigation. Meadows had been stopped at the Atlanta airport, and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent discovered $169,000 and six marihuana cigarettes in his duffle bag. After Meadows returned to Houston, he met with Lerma and Hinojosa to discuss the government’s seizure of the money. Because of the incident at the airport, Miller and Meadows then stopped transporting marihuana for Hinojosa and Lerma.
In the summer of 1987, Miller again began driving marihuana from Houston to Atlanta because he needed the work. During the summer, Miller made four or five trips. On each trip he hauled approximately 300 pounds of marihuana, and on one trip, he transported six kilos of cocaine. Hinojosa accompanied Miller on two of the trips. Miller was arrested in Orange County, Texas for possession of less than an ounce of marihuana in July 1987. He then moved to Atlanta and ceased transporting drugs for Hinojosa and Lerma. He did, however, continue his association with the defendants. In fact, Miller purchased cocaine and marihuana from Hinojosa for the purpose of resale.
On March 27, 1988, Miller was again arrested. The charge was possession of marihuana and LSD. Following his arrest, Miller agreed to cooperate with the Georgia police. He told them that Hinojosa was his source and that Hinojosa would be coming to Atlanta. Upon Hinojosa’s arrival in Atlanta, Miller was temporarily released from jail so he could meet Hinojosa to receive a kilo of cocaine. Miller wore a “body-bug” during the transaction. After the transaction, Miller was returned to custody, and Hinojosa was arrested in his motel room.
Evidence was introduced to show that throughout the same time period, Lerma was involved in numerous other drug transactions. On two occasions in the summer of 1987, Lerma and Roger Solis transported between 500 and 900 pounds of marihuana from Laredo to Houston. Solis also drove two separate loads of marihuana to South Carolina. On the first trip to South Carolina, the marihuana was loaded at Ler-ma’s house, and Solis drove in tandem with Ricardo Montalvan (a/k/a Valentin). On the second trip, Solis was stopped en route with the load and was arrested.
Testimony at trial indicated that one of Lerma’s cocaine sources was his girlfriend, Jacquelyn Cruzco. In May 1988, Cruzco’s house was searched pursuant to a valid search warrant. The police discovered $147,000 in cash, scales, drug paraphernalia, and marihuana at Cruzco’s house. Ler-ma’s briefcase was also searched, and the police found drug ledgers and a business card for an attorney named Lawrence Rothenberg. On the back of the card was a notation indicating that Lerma had paid $25,000 in legal expenses for Hinojosa. The briefcase also contained a memorandum regarding the events surrounding Hi-nojosa’s arrest.
In August 1988, as a result both of information supplied by Miller and the arrest of Hinojosa, law enforcement officials in Houston obtained court-authorized wiretaps on several telephone numbers utilized by Lerma, and they also conducted surveillance on his activities. Numerous incriminating conversations between Lerma, Lionel Sosa, Lee Hernandez, Solis, Montalvan, Vincente Rivera, and Cruzco were recorded. These conversations involved drug transactions and delivery of money. Approximately nine conversations were recorded between Lerma, Lee Hernandez, and Lionel Sosa, regarding money Hernandez allegedly owed Lerma for cocaine. Sosa testified at trial that Lerma recruited him to sell cocaine. Sosa agreed to assist Lerma by directing cocaine customers to him. In August 1988, Sosa put Lerma in touch with Lee Hernandez for the purpose of conducting cocaine and marihuana transactions.
*628 In a separate conversation, Lerma told Montalvan that Lerma and two others had purchased 10,000-12,000 pounds of marihuana, and that Lerma intended to set aside 2000-3000 pounds for Montalvan. Another series of calls involved a 1000-pound marihuana transaction between Ler-ma and Montalvan. Lerma had purchased the marihuana from Felix Castillo. He had shown samples of the marihuana to Mon-talvan, but Montalvan rejected the marihuana. Lerma was en route to return the marihuana to Castillo when he was arrested by surveillance agents. A search of his car produced two samples of marihuana totalling forty pounds, a gun, and drug ledgers.
Hinojosa was indicted and convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 1000 kilograms of marihuana and in excess of five kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and two counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1952(a)(1), and 1953(a)(3). He was sentenced to a total prison term of 235 months, followed by five years supervised release. Lerma was indicted and convicted of 51 counts, involving: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 1000 kilograms of marihuana and in excess of five kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848; interstate travel in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1952(a)(1); possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marihuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); possession with intent to distribute marihuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); use of a telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 843(b); carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1); conducting financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i); engaging in monetary transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957; and investing illegal proceeds in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 854. He was sentenced to a total prison term of 300 months, followed by five years supervised release. Both appellants filed timely appeals.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Both Lerma and Hinojosa challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support a portion of their conviction. We address each appellant’s claim individually. In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court views all evidence in the light most favorable to the government with all reasonable inferences and credibility choices to be made in support of the jury’s verdict. The evidence is sufficient if a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States v. Anchondo-Sandoval,
Both Hinojosa and Lerma have a difficult burden to overcome because they did not object to the sufficiency of the evidence at the trial level. Without the objection, we extend even greater weight than is usual as to the jury’s finding. A review of Hinojosa and Lerma’s sufficiency claims is “limited to the determination of whether there was a manifest miscarriage of justice. Such a miscarriage would exist only if the record is devoid of evidence pointing to guilt.”
United States v. Robles-Pantoja,
Hinojosa challenges the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to his conviction for traveling and aiding and abetting travel in interstate commerce with the intent to distribute the proceeds of unlawful activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(1) and (2).
2
The essential ele
*629
ments of a violation under Section 1952(a) are: (1) travel in interstate or foreign commerce; (2) with the specific intent to distribute the proceeds of an unlawful activity; and (3) knowing and willful commission of an act in furtherance of that intent.
United States v. Logan,
Although Hinojosa traveled with Miller and Meadows to transport marihuana to Atlanta, he claims there is no evidence to support the conclusion that he actively participated in the distribution of proceeds. Miller counted the money, and then Miller and Meadows drove to Houston to deliver the proceeds to Lerma. Hinojosa maintains there is no evidence showing that he either delivered the proceeds or that he aided and abetted others in the interstate travel of the proceeds.
Although it is true that Hinojosa did not deliver the proceeds from Atlanta to Houston personally, it is not necessary under an aiding and abetting theory that he personally do so. This court has held that the requisite intent for Section 1952(a) may be inferred from a defendant’s conduct immediately before and after travel.
United States v. Abadie,
The attack by Lerma on the sufficiency of the evidence is much narrower. Lerma was convicted under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute (“CCE”), 3 which requires proof that a defendant organized, supervised, or managed five or more persons in a continuing series of drug violations from which the defendant obtained substantial income. Lerma admits he organized, supervised, or managed Solis, Montalvan, and Sosa, but he contends the evidence is insufficient to show he had similar authority over anyone else.
The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the government, indicates Lerma was Hinojosa’s supervisor. Hinojosa worked directly under Lerma, assisting him by stripping down cars full of marihuana, delivering the marihuana to Atlanta, and ensuring the money was delivered back to Lerma. The most convincing evidence indicating Lerma supervised Hino-josa’s affairs is the business card signifying that Lerma paid Hinojosa’s legal fees after the 1988 arrest.
*630
Because Lerma supervised Hinojosa and Hinojosa managed or supervised Miller and Meadows, Lerma is thus considered a manager, supervisor, or organizer of Miller and Meadows as well. Lerma argues he is not responsible for the people who worked for Hinojosa, but this argument defies common logic. The CCE must not be rendered meaningless by permitting the head of a drug enterprise to insulate himself from liability by merely delegating authority to several lieutenants. The specific wording of the statute compels this Court to include delegated authority within the definition of the CCE statute. Nowhere in Section 848(c) does it say the defendant must “directly” or “personally” organize, supervise, or manage five people. Moreover, the terms “organize,” “supervise,” or “manage” are used disjunctively in the statute. Lerma wants us to assume the drafters intended the words “supervise” and “manage” to be synonymous. This is an assumption we will not make. “[Tjhese terms should be applied in their ordinary sense as understood by the public or the business community.”
United States v. Butler,
The caselaw firmly supports the statutory wording and purpose. “[A] defendant may not insulate himself from CCE liability by carefully pyramiding authority so as to maintain fewer than five direct subordinates.”
United States v. Ricks,
III. JURY SELECTION
Hinojosa maintains he should be granted a new trial because he was denied a fair trial due to two improprieties in the jury selection process. He first asserts that the trial judge erred in refusing to strike Ms. Morgan from the jury panel because she was allegedly biased against drug-related crimes. Ms. Morgan’s son, although drug-free at the time of trial, had had a drug problem as a teenager, and Ms. Morgan expressed some concern as to whether she could put the experience aside during the trial. When the trial judge asked Ms. Morgan if she could decide a case based on the evidence despite her son’s past problems, she stated, “I feel like I could in one way, and another way I’m not sure. I’m being truthful with you, Judge.” When the government questioned Ms. Morgan, the following exchange occurred:
Government: Do you understand that you will be under oath to follow the law and the Judge’s instructions? Can you do this?
Morgan: Yes.
Government: We’re all products of our upbringing and our hates and dislikes and likes. But setting those aside and deciding the facts of the case, can you do that?
Morgan: Yes, I can.
Hinojosa attempted to have the juror struck because of bias, but the trial judge denied the motion. As a result of the *631 ruling, Hinojosa used one of his peremptory challenges on Ms. Morgan, which meant he was unable to use it on another venireman. We affirm the trial court’s ruling.
The Sixth and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution guarantee all criminal defendants the right to a trial by an impartial jury. The implementation of this guarantee is entrusted to the trial court.
King v. Lynaugh,
The decision to grant such power to the trial judge is based on the acknowledged advantage the trial judge has in observing the demeanor and credibility of any potential juror.
Wainwright v. Witt,
In the present case, the trial judge questioned the venireman himself and then listened as both sides questioned her as well. At the conclusion of this process, he believed Ms. Morgan’s assertion that she would follow the law and his instructions. Ms. Morgan’s candor on the subject bolsters her later assertions that she would set aside her “hates and dislikes and likes.” The present case involves a less extreme potential for bias than
Celestine v. Blackburn,
Hinojosa’s second claim regarding the selection of the jury is that the government denied him equal protection of the law by using its peremptory challenges to exclude three black prospective jurors solely because of their race in violation of
Batson v. Kentucky,
The government gave the following reasons for striking the respective jurors:
Panelist No. 1 — The government felt he was both slow in answering the questions and not paying attention during voir dire. The government was also concerned because the panelist stated he had twelve years of formal education but did not state he had completed high school. Panelist No. 16 — The government struck this juror because he had not completed high school.
Panelist No. 23 — The government struck this juror because he, too, had not completed high school.
The government’s concern over lack of education and inattentiveness was due to the complex legal issues involved in this case. The trial involved 58 counts, including con *632 tinuing criminal enterprise, money laundering, and structuring financial transactions. Additionally, it required the jury to determine whether Lerma’s vast properties and assets were subject to criminal forfeiture as proceeds of unlawful activity. The government was apprehensive that these particular veniremen would have difficulty understanding the complexities involved. The district court accepted the government’s reasons for its use of peremptory strikes on these veniremen and denied the Batson motion.
As with the motion to strike for cause, we pay great deference to the trial judge’s decision regarding a
Batson
motion. The trial judge’s decision rests upon a credibility determination, and, thus, we interfere with that decision only if it is clearly erroneous or an abuse of discretion.
United States v. Terrazas-Carrasco,
Once Hinojosa made a prima facie showing that the government’s peremptory challenges were based on race, the burden shifted to the government to articulate a race-neutral reason for its challenges.
United States v. Clemons,
This Court has previously held that a disinterested demeanor and inattentiveness are valid, race-neutral reasons for excluding a venireman from jury service.
Moore v. Keller Industries, Inc.,
IV. LERMA’S SENTENCE
Lerma asserts that there are two errors in the sentence he received and that this Court should reverse and remand for resentencing. We are unable to consider his request because Lerma has not provided this Court with a record of the sentencing hearing, and no justification is given for not doing so. The rules of appellate procedure require the appellant to provide the record,
5
and our caselaw has consistently followed this rule.
United States v. Juarez-Fierro,
Y. HINOJOSA’S SENTENCE
Hinojosa, like Lerma, claims the district court erred in computing his sentence, but, unlike Lerma, Hinojosa provided this Court with a record of his sentencing hearing. Consequently, we are able to evaluate whether the district court erred.
For sentencing purposes, the district court imposed a two level increase of Hinojosa’s offense level because “the defendant was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in any criminal activity.” U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(c). “Factors the court should consider include the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of participation in the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the claimed right to a larger share of the fruits of the crime, the degree of participation in planning or organizing the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control and authority exercised over others.” Application Note 3, U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(c). Unlike a finding of guilt, the facts necessary to support an adjustment in sentencing must only be proved by a preponderance of the evidence.
United States v. Alfaro,
Hinojosa claims the evidence is insufficient to support a finding that he was a “leader.” He alleges the evidence shows only that he was a participant with Miller and Meadows, but not their leader. In contrast to this claim, the following evidence established at trial supports the district court’s finding of Hinojosa as a leader: (1) Hinojosa supplied the marihuana for the trips to Atlanta; (2) he was involved with the men who picked up the marihuana and paid for the load; (3) he chose the hotel where they met; (4) he directed Miller to count the money and gave Miller permission to keep the small bills; and (5) when Meadows was stopped with money in the Atlanta airport, it was Hinojosa and Lerma who met with Meadows to discover what happened to the money. With this preponderance of the evidence supporting the finding of Hinojosa as a leader, we hold that the district court’s ruling was not clearly erroneous.
VI. CONCLUSION
We hold the convictions of Hinojosa and Lerma must be upheld. There were no improprieties in the selection of the jury, and the evidence was sufficient to support all convictions. With respect to Hinojosa, the trial judge did not err in calculating his sentence, and with respect to Lerma, we do not address the issue of error in calculating his sentence because Lerma did not provide us with the record of the sentencing proceedings. Finding no error, we affirm the convictions and sentences.
AFFIRMED.
Notes
. "(a) Whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to—
(1)distribute the proceeds of any unlawful activity; or
(2) commit any crime of violence to further any unlawful activity; or
(3) otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on, of any *629 unlawful activity, and thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.” 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (1984).
. "For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person is engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise if—
(1) he violates any provision of this subchap-ter or subchapter II of this chapter the punishment for which is a felony, and
(2) such violation is a part of a continuing series of violations of this subchapter or sub-chapter II of this chapter—
(A) which are undertaken by such person in concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom such person occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management, and
(B) From which such person obtains substantial income or resources.
21 U.S.C. § 848(c) (1981).
.
Jones v. Butler,
. "(1) Within 10 days after filing the notice of appeal the appellant shall order from the reporter a transcript of such parts of the proceedings not already on file as the appellant deems necessary, subject to local rules of the courts of appeals.... (2) If the appellant intends to urge on appeal that a finding or conclusion is unsupported by the evidence or is contrary to the evidence, the appellant shall include in the record a transcript of all evidence relevant to such finding or conclusion.” Fed.R.App.P. 10(b).
.
See United States v. Durrive,
