United States v. Hinojosa ( 1994 )

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For the Fifth Circuit
No. 93-7514
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
VERSUS
DANIEL INOCENCIO,
EVARISTO HINOJOSA, SR.,
DANIEL ALFONSO REYES,
Defendants-Appellants.
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
(December 8, 1994)
Before REYNALDO G. GARZA, WIENER, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit
Judges.
REYNALDO G. GARZA, Circuit Judge:
Daniel Inocencio, Evaristo Hinojosa, Sr., and Daniel Alfonso
Reyes (the "appellants") were indicted on October 20, 1992, on two
separate counts. Count one consisted of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine in violation of
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. Count two dealt with
the underlying possession offense in violation of 21 U.S.C.
§841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2.1
The appellants were convicted by a jury on both counts of the
indictment on April 24, 1993, and were sentenced on July 22, 1993.
Evaristo Hinojosa, Sr., received a concurrent imprisonment term of
300 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, followed by a
eight year term of supervised release, a $3,500 fine and a $100
special assessment. Daniel Inocencio received a concurrent
imprisonment term of 235 months, followed by a five year term of
supervised release, a $3,500 fine and a $100 special assessment.
Daniel Alfonso Reyes ("Reyes") received a concurrent imprisonment
term of 240 months, followed by a five year term of supervised
release, a $3,500 fine and a $100 special assessment. The
appellants appeal their convictions. For the reasons below, we
AFFIRM the district court.
FACTS
On October 1, 1992, while conducting traffic duties at the
checkpoint on Highway 16, two miles south of Hebbronville, Texas,
U.S. Border Patrol Agents Carl Rhodes and Luis Del Olmo were
notified at noon that directional vehicular sensors had been
activated on a private ranch road on Helen Ranch between FM 3073
and Highway 359. These sensors had been installed, after numerous
complaints from ranchers, to detect narcotics smugglers who
1
Nicanor Inocencio and Hector Eduardo Hill were also charged
as defendants in both counts. Prior to trial, however, Hill pled
guilty to count two pursuant to a plea agreement with the
government, whereby he agreed to testify truthfully in his co-
defendants' trial. Nicanor Inocencio pled guilty to the indictment
without any plea agreement from the government.
commonly used the road to circumvent two nearby Border Patrol
checkpoints.2 The sensors were strategically placed to avoid
detecting routine traffic on the ranch. Agent Rhodes' unit alone
had made five seizures of narcotics between April 1991 and October
1991 due to the triggering of such devices.
As Agents Rhodes and Del Olmo proceeded to the ranch, they
were alerted of another sensor "hit". They also overheard on their
police scanner that a tan Ford Bronco had been observed making u-
turns in the area, driving up and down the highway. The agents
suspected that the Bronco was a "lookout" for a second vehicle
carrying contraband; the vehicle which had presumably activated the
sensors. Upon reaching the ranch, the agents parked near to a
locked gate that enclosed the private road and waited for a vehicle
to exit.
At 12:15 p.m., they observed a white 1992 Ford pickup truck
drive up to the gate from within the ranch. The truck's sole
occupant, a Hispanic male, exited the vehicle and unlocked the
gate. The occupant was later identified as Reyes, one of the
appellants. Two other agents, Morales and Sigala, drove by as
Reyes locked the gate. All four agents observed the truck depart
towards Hebbronville. None of the agents recognized the truck or
Reyes.
2
The checkpoints are located on Highway 16, two miles south of
Hebbronville, and on Highway 359 between Hebbronville and Laredo.
Smugglers circumvent the checkpoints by using Highway 649 from Rio
Grande City to Farm Road 3073, which exits approximately a mile
below the Highway 16 checkpoint. Thereafter, the smugglers cross
the private ranch road to Highway 359, thereby circumventing both
checkpoints.
3
These agents were not only familiar with the traffic around
the ranch, but they had been advised by a ranch owner that the only
individuals authorized to access the road were employees of Helen
Ranch, the Hughes Oil Company and the Rodriguez Service Company.
The agents testified that they were familiar with the ranch
employees accessing the road, that the Hughes trucks were
identifiable by their company logos and that the Rodriguez truck
was a white Datsun truck. The white Ford truck driven by Reyes
aroused the agent's suspicions due to their unfamiliarity with the
vehicle, the heightened drug activity in the area, the lack of
company logos on the truck and the fact that it carried no tools or
pipe racks typical of oil field trucks. The agents were also
unaware of any oil activity in the area at that time. Furthermore,
although Reyes appeared to be dressed as a workman, his clothing
appeared too clean to have been working in the field.
The agents followed the truck onto the highway in the
direction of Hebbronville. A check of the vehicle's license
registration revealed that the vehicle was registered in the name
of Hector Eduardo Hill of Newark, Texas. Due to their suspicions,
the agents decided to stop the truck for an immigration inspection.
As Agent Del Olmo questioned Reyes, Agent Rhodes noticed signs of
a false compartment in the bed of the truck. The record discloses
that Rhodes observed that the back of the truck was higher than
normal, that Rhodes smelled fresh paint and noticed that a fresh
coat of it covered dents and scratches around the fender wells at
the back of the truck and that there was a fresh black undercoating
4
in certain areas underneath the bed of the truck.3 The parties
dispute the questions asked by Del Olmo following the stop, and
Reyes' behavior and responses to such questions. In any event,
Agent Rhodes ultimately asked Reyes if he consented to a canine
search of the vehicle. Reyes replied in the affirmative and a
drug-sniffing dog immediately detected contraband in the bed of the
truck.
Reyes was properly placed under arrest and approximately 300
pounds of cocaine (with a street value of $9,6000,000) were
recovered from a false compartment in the bed of the truck. The
agents also recovered a hand-held, two-way radio from the seat of
Reyes' truck, a small amount of cocaine and a key to the ranch
gate. After Reyes' arrest, the local sheriff's department was
notified to be on the "look out" for the Bronco which had been
driving back and forth on the highway.
At 3:18 p.m., Deputy Roland Garza, with the Jim Hogg Sheriff's
Department, observed the Bronco traveling on Highway 359, one mile
west of Hebbronville. The Bronco was following too closely behind
a recreational vehicle, approximately one car length behind at a
speed of 55 m.p.h., prompting Deputy Garza to pull the Bronco over.
Daniel Inocencio ("Daniel"), the driver, failed to produce a
license and proof of insurance. He also admitted to following the
recreational vehicle too closely and apologized. Nicanor Inocencio
("Nicanor"), the passenger, produced his Texas driver's license.
3
The smell of fresh paint was suspicious to Rhodes, since the
truck was brand new at the time of the stop.
5
While writing out the citations against Daniel, the deputy asked
about a two-way radio located under the dashboard. Daniel admitted
to owning the radio and became nervous and evasive when asked
further questions about it.
After receiving Daniel's consent to search the vehicle, Deputy
Garza inquired whether there were any weapons in the Bronco and
Daniel indicated that there was a gun in the glove box and a clip
with ammunition in the driver's side door panel. For safety
reasons, the search was continued at the sheriff's department.
While searching the Bronco, Deputy Garza finally realized that it
matched the description of the vehicle sighted in connection with
possible narcotics trafficking. Daniel was arrested for possession
of a firearm, driving without a license or liability insurance and
for driving too closely behind another vehicle. Nicanor was
arrested for possessing approximately two grams of cocaine.
A thorough search of the Ford Bronco revealed that the two-way
radio was programmed to the same frequency as the radio found in
Reyes' truck. Officers also found a cellular phone that displayed
a locked-in phone number of 664-7323, a piece of paper with the
same phone number and number 132 written on it, and a photograph of
Daniel and Reyes. The phone number was traced to Alice Motor Inn
in Alice, Texas. The officers further seized a digital pager from
Daniel and numerous phone numbers from his and Nicanor's wallet,
including Evaristo Hinojosa's cellular phone numbers and Reyes'
pager number.
Alice police officers were sent to room 132 at the Alice Motor
6
Inn. The room was registered under the name of David Garza, but it
was later determined that Nicanor had signed the registration card
for the room. The occupants of the room were identified as Hector
Eduardo Hill ("Hill"), Evaristo Hinojosa, Sr., ("Hinojosa") and
Alejandro Trevino. After preliminary questioning, Hill, Hinojosa
and Alejandro Trevino were transported to the Laredo Drug
Enforcement Agency office. Hill and Hinojosa were consequently
arrested and charged with the present drug offenses.4 Reyes,
Daniel and Hinojosa appeal the convictions arising from the facts
above.
DISCUSSION5
I. Daniel Alfonso Reyes
A.
Reyes bases his appeal on three separate points of error. In
his first point of error, the appellant argues that U.S. Border
Patrol agents lacked reasonable suspicion to conduct a stop and
probable cause to conduct a search of the vehicle. Reyes asserts
that the Agents were predisposed to stop any traffic traveling the
private road at Helen Ranch. Consequently, Reyes argues all
evidence seized from such stop is fruit from a poisonous tree.
Hence, said evidence should have been suppressed in his pre-trial
4
It is unclear from the record what charges, if any, were
brought against Alejandro Trevino, nor their ultimate disposition.
5
Although the appellants appeals are docketed under the same
appeal number, each defendant has raised different issues.
Therefore, each defendant's appeal will be discussed separately.
7
motion to suppress.
A district court's purely factual findings are reviewed under
the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Cardona, 955 F.2d
976, 977 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ---U.S.---, 113 S. Ct. 381
(1992). The evidence presented at a pre-trial hearing on a motion
to suppress is viewed in the light most favorable to the prevailing
party. Id. The conclusions of law derived from a district court's
findings of fact, such as whether a reasonable suspicion existed to
stop a vehicle, are reviewed de novo. Id.
Due to the fact that this case involves a roving Border Patrol
stop, our analysis is guided by the principles enunciated by the
United States Supreme Court in United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422
U.S. 873 (1975). Border Patrol officers on roving patrol may
temporarily detain vehicles for investigation only if they are
"aware of specific articulable facts, together with rational
inferences from those facts, that reasonably warrant suspicion"
that the vehicle is involved in illegal activities. Cardona, 955
F.2d at 980 (quoting Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. at 884); see United
States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 421-22 (1981) (expanding the
Brignoni-Ponce "reasonable suspicion" test for alien smuggling to
encompass vehicle stops for any suspected criminal activity).
In determining whether a Border Patrol agent acted with
reasonable suspicion, the district court may consider the following
relevant factors:
(1) known characteristics of a particular area, (2) previous
experience of the arresting agents with criminal activity, (3)
proximity of the area to the border, (4) usual traffic
patterns of that road, (5) information about recent illegal
8
trafficking in aliens or narcotics in the area, (6) the
behavior of the vehicle's driver, (7) the appearance of the
vehicle, and (8) the number, appearance and behavior of the
passengers.
United States v. Casteneda, 951 F.2d 44, 47 (5th Cir. 1992) (citing
United States v. Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d 407, 411 (5th Cir.
1984) (in turn citing Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. at 885)).
Reasonable suspicion, however, is not limited to an analysis of any
one factor. Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d at 411; Cardona, 955 F.2d
at 980 (the absence of a particular factor will not control a
court's conclusions). Instead, since "reasonable suspicion" is a
fact intensive test, each case must be examined from the "totality
of the circumstances known to the agent, and the agent's experience
in evaluating such circumstances." Casteneda, 951 F.2d at 47.
One element that this Court frequently focuses on, however, is
whether an arresting agent could reasonably conclude that a
particular vehicle originated its journey at the border.6
6
This Court considers the fact that a vehicle may have
recently crossed the border as a vital element in making an
investigatory stop. Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d at 411. This
stems from the fact that we are reluctant to allow governmental
interference with people traveling within our country, even if the
vehicle is traveling close to the border. Id. That situation,
however, is completely different from the instance where someone
has "definitely and positively entered this country from abroad."
Id. (quoting United States v. Lopez, 564 F.2d 710, 712 (5th Cir.
1977)). In the latter case, a stop at the border or its
"functional equivalent" is automatically justified without a
showing of probable cause or even reasonable suspicion. Id.
(citing Almeida-Sanchez v. Untied States, 413 U.S. 266, 272-73
(1973)).
At times, this issue is resolved by an analysis of the road
the vehicle was travelling on, the number of towns along the road,
the number of intersecting roads and, finally, the number of miles
the vehicle was actually from the border at the point of the stop.
United States v. Cardona, 955 F.2d 976, 980 (5th Cir.), cert.
denied, ---U.S.---, 113 S. Ct. 381 (1992).
9
Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d at 411 (citations omitted). When the
stop occurs a substantial distance from the border,7 this element
is missing. Id. Since the record does not reflect the proximity
of the stop to the Texas-Mexico border, this Court will take
judicial notice of the fact that the stop was a substantial
distance from the nearest border entry point. Consequently, the
proximity element is missing in this case.
On the other hand, if the agents do not base the stop on the
vehicle's proximity to the border, Brignoni-Ponce may still be
satisfied if other articulable facts warrant reasonable suspicion.
United States v. Henke, 775 F.2d 641, 645 (5th Cir. 1985); United
States v. Salazar-Martinez, 710 F.2d 1087, 1088 (5th Cir. 1983)
(proximity to the border is not a controlling Brignoni-Ponce factor
if other articulable facts give rise to the requisite reasonable
suspicion); Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d at 411. In that instance,
the facts offered by the government to support a reasonable
suspicion will be examined charily. Salazar-Martinez, 710 F.2d at
1088; Henke, 775 F.2d at 645.
A careful examination of the facts creates a reasonable
suspicion of illegal activity, especially when the evidence is
viewed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party. The
record clearly establishes several of the Brignoni-Ponce factors.
7
Vehicles traveling more than fifty miles from the border are
usually a "substantial" distance from the border. See Cardona, 955
F.2d 976, 980 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ---U.S.---, 113 S. Ct. 381
(1992) (stop was proper where vehicle was between 40 and 50 miles
from Mexican border); Melendez-Gonzalez, 727 F.2d at 411 (a stop
sixty miles from the Mexican border was not sufficient to establish
that vehicle originated from the border).
10
For example, the record shows that Agent Rhodes was an experienced
veteran who was familiar with the Hebbronville area and who had
been involved in five narcotics seizures (within a five month
period) on that particular road. It was certainly clear to Agent
Rhodes and the other agents that this road, which was unaccessible
to the public, was a main artery for drug smuggling since it
circumvented the two Border Patrol checkpoints.8
In addition, the agents were propelled into action by sensors
designed to avoid routine ranch traffic. This is not to say,
however, that a sensor "hit" alone will create "reasonable
suspicion" for an investigatory immigration stop. But a "hit,"
together with the observation of an unfamiliar and atypical-looking
oil field vehicle with no company logos and an unfamiliar
individual wearing clean workman's clothes may, as a whole, justify
such a stop. Again, this Court will stress that the ranch owners
had specifically identified the vehicles that were authorized to
access the private ranch road. They emphasized that all other
vehicles on that road were unauthorized. Moreover, the agents had
worked that area for enough time to familiarize themselves with the
employees and vehicles accessing that road.
Furthermore, the agents were alerted to the suspicious
activity of the Ford Bronco in the vicinity of the ranch gate;
activity suggesting a "lead car - load car" configuration.9 The
8
The record also reveals that the ranch road was heavily used
by alien smugglers.
9
This configuration is one of the tactics utilized by drug
smugglers while transporting contraband. The "lead" vehicle will
11
totality of these circumstances created a sufficient level of
reasonable suspicion to conduct an investigatory stop.10 However,
contrary to appellant's argument, the facts do not support Reyes'
contention that the agents were predisposed to stop and investigate
any vehicle crossing that road.11
Since we conclude that the stop was legal, the next question
we must answer is whether the seizure of the evidence was legal.
Although only reasonable suspicion is needed to stop a vehicle for
an immigration check, probable cause or consent is necessary in
order to search a vehicle. See United States v. Melendez-Gonzalez,
727 F.2d 407, 413 (5th Cir. 1984) (citing United States v.
drive on ahead and warn the "load" vehicle, usually via two-way
radio, of any law enforcement officers on the road.
10
In light of these facts, we also agree with the government
that Agents Rhodes and Del Olmo acted with an objectively
reasonable good faith belief that they had a reasonable articulable
suspicion that legally justified stopping Reyes. See United States
v. Ramirez-Lujan, 976 F.2d 930, 933-34 (5th Cir. 1992), cert.
denied, --U.S.--, 113 S. Ct. 1587 (1993) (among the factors relied
on by the Border Patrol agent in making the stop on Pinon Road were
that he knew the truck did not belong to a Pinon Road resident or
one of their employees, the unusual hour the truck transversed the
road, the proximity of the road to an avoided checkpoint, the
notoriety of the road's use for illegal activity, and its proximity
to the border). Under the good faith exception, "evidence is not
to be suppressed...where it is discovered by officers in the course
of actions that are taken in good faith and in the reasonable,
though mistaken, belief that they [were] authorized." Id. at 932
(citations omitted). The facts in Ramirez-Lujan are sufficiently
similar to those before us to adequately support this finding as
well.
11
To substantiate his argument that the agents were
unreasonably stopping anyone on that road, Reyes placed great
weight on the fact that he possessed a key to the ranch gate Yet,
this fact by itself does not tip the scales in his favor. If, on
the other hand, he had also been driving a typical oil field truck
with company logos, his argument might have carried more weight.
This, however, did not occur.
12
Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873, 881-82 (1975)); United States v.
Henke, 775 F.2d 641, 643 (5th Cir. 1985). The agents testified at
trial that Reyes appeared nervous and offered conflicting
statements in explaining his presence on Helen Ranch road. In
addition, they testified that Reyes was unable to read certain
graphs and charts that he claimed he was working on while in the
area. The cumulation of the testimony and evidence above, together
with the observation that the bed of the vehicle was higher than
normal, the discovery of fresh paint (on a brand new truck) around
the fender wells and the fresh undercoating beneath the bed of the
truck, all contributed in creating a reasonable belief that the
vehicle contained a false compartment. This belief would create
sufficient probable cause to search the vehicle. See United States
v. Edwards, 577 F.2d 883, 895 (5th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied,
439 U.S. 968 (1978) ("It is well settled that probable cause to
search an automobile exists when trustworthy facts and
circumstances within the officer's personal knowledge would cause
a reasonably prudent man to believe that the vehicle contains
contraband."). Even so, it is undisputed by Reyes that he
voluntarily consented to a search of the vehicle after the
investigatory stop. For these reasons, we find the search legal.
B.
As his second point of error, Reyes asserts that the direct
and circumstantial evidence presented against him was insufficient
to support his conviction for conspiracy or possession with intent
to distribute. He argues that the government failed to prove that
13
an agreement was entered into between the five individuals
originally named as defendants. Furthermore, he claims the
government did not prove that he was guilty of possession with
intent to distribute because it did not show that he was aware of
the false compartment in the bed of the truck.
Reyes moved for a judgment of acquittal at the end of the
state's evidence, but failed to renew the motion at the close of
his evidence. Accordingly, our review of Reyes' claims is limited
to whether his conviction resulted in a manifest miscarriage of
justice. United State v. Thomas, 12 F.3d 1350, 1358 (5th Cir.),
cert. denied, ---U.S.---, 114 S. Ct. 1861 (1994) (citations
omitted). "Such a miscarriage would exist only if the record is
devoid of evidence pointing to guilt, or...because the evidence on
a key element of the offense was so tenuous that a conviction would
be shocking." United States v. Pierre, 958 F.2d 1304, 1310 (5th
Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, ---U.S.---, 113 S. Ct. 280 (1992)
(internal quotations and citations omitted).12 In making this
determination, the evidence, as with the regular standard for
review of insufficiency of evidence claims, must be considered in
12
In United States v. McCarty, No.93-7757, 1994 WL 583152, at
* 9 (5th Cir. Oct. 25, 1994) (per curiam), this Court recognized
that there was some question about the distinction between the
plain error "miscarriage of justice" standard and the "sufficiency
of the evidence" standard, see United States v. Pennington, 20 F.3d
593, 597 n.2 (5th Cir. 1994), as applied to defendants who failed
to renew their motions for acquittal at the close of their
evidence. This Court resolved the issue by stating that it was
bound by the precedent of this Circuit as reflected in United
States v. Pierre and United States v. Thomas, supra. Id.
Therefore, under the plain error standard, this Court will reverse
a conviction only where there is a manifest miscarriage of justice.
Id.
14
the light most favorable to the government, giving the government
the benefit of all reasonable inferences and credibility choices.
Thomas, 12 F.3d at 1358-59 (citation omitted).
A conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 841 (a)(1) for possession of
drugs with intent to distribute, requires the government to prove
that the defendants knowingly possessed contraband with the intent
to distribute it. United States v. Shabazz, 993 F.2d 431, 441 (5th
Cir. 1993). Possession may be actual or constructive. Id.
Ownership, dominion, or control over the contraband, or over the
vehicle in which it was concealed, constitutes constructive
possession. Id. Furthermore, "knowledge of the presence of
contraband may ordinarily be inferred from the exercise of control
over the vehicle in which it is concealed." Id. (quoting United
States v. Garcia, 917 F.2d 1370, 1376-77 (5th Cir. 1990).
In recent cases, however, where the illegal substance was
discovered in a hidden compartment within the vehicle, we have
required circumstantial evidence that is suspicious in nature or
which demonstrates guilty knowledge. Id.; see, e.g., United States
v. Pineda-Ortuno, 952 F.2d 98, 102 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ---
U.S.---, 112 S. Ct. 1990 (1992); United States v. Gonzalez-Lira, 936
F.2d 184, 192 (5th Cir. 1991). For example, the defendant's
control over a vehicle, when combined with his nervousness,
conflicting statements, and implausible stories, is sufficient to
support a finding that he had knowing possession. Pineda-Ortuno,
952 F.2d at 102; United States v. Diaz-Carreon, 915 F.2d 951, 954-
55 (5th Cir. 1990). Finally, possession of cocaine in an amount
15
larger than that needed for personal consumption will support a
finding that the defendant intended to distribute the drug.
Pineda-Ortuno, 952 F.2d at 102; United States v. Kaufman, 858 F.2d
994, 1000 (5th Cir. 1988).
Since it is undisputed that the driver of the cocaine laden
vehicle was Reyes, a jury could conclude that he had constructive
possession of the cocaine. In addition, the agents' testimony
revealed that Reyes seemed nervous throughout the questioning and
had a hard time keeping his story straight. For instance, when
questioned about the owner of the truck Reyes initially responded
that it belonged to "Mr. Hill," but later reversed himself and
stated that it belonged to Killam Oil. According to the agents,
Reyes claimed to be reading oil field gauges in the area with the
help of graphs inside the truck, but when he produced the graphs
they had no marks on them. Agent Rhodes also testified that Reyes
failed to explain how to read the graphs he was supposedly working
on.
Reyes, on the other hand, offered a different story. Reyes
testified that he had no knowledge that he was transporting cocaine
when he was arrested. He alleged that a friend left the truck
(with over $9.6 million in cocaine) at his house for a few hours
and, since the keys were left in the ignition, decided to use it to
run errands and seek employment in a ranch near to where he was
stopped. Reyes denied ever giving the investigating agents the
name of the vehicle's owner. Furthermore, he denied using any of
the graphs found inside the truck and denied ever mentioning that
16
he knew a "Mr. Hill."
The jurors entertained the plausibility of each parties'
testimony and were free to believe or disbelieve all or part of it.
Yet, it is clear that they found Reyes' version of the facts
implausible, since they chose to convict him. In light of the
testimony and evidence adduced at trial, and by virtue of the large
amount of cocaine in his possession, this Court concludes that
there is an overwhelming amount of evidence in the record to
support the jury's conviction for possession with the intent to
distribute cocaine. Especially, when the evidence is viewed in the
light most favorable to the government.
To establish a drug conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the
government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt (1) an agreement
between two or more persons to violate the narcotics laws, (2) that
each alleged conspirator knew of the conspiracy and intended to
join it, and (3) that each alleged conspirator did participate
voluntarily in the conspiracy. United States v. Pennington, 20
F.3d 593, 597 (5th Cir. 1994). "No evidence of overt conduct is
required. A conspiracy agreement may be tacit, and the trier of
fact may infer an agreement from circumstantial evidence." United
States v. Thomas, 12 F.3d 1350, 1358 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ---
U.S.---, 114 S. Ct. 1861 (1994) (quoting United States v. Hernandez-
Palacios, 838 F.2d 1346, 1348 (5th Cir. 1988)); Pierre, 958 F.2d at
1311 (a conspiracy need not be proved by direct evidence, but may
be inferred from circumstantial evidence indicating a "concert of
action" between the alleged conspirators). Furthermore, a jury may
17
find a defendant guilty of conspiring with unknown persons where a
"pivotal figure. . .directs and organizes the illegal activity, and
has extensive dealings with each of the parties." Thomas, 12 F.3d
at 1357 (quoting United States v. Lockey, 945 F.2d 825, 833 (5th
Cir. 1991)). Thus, "parties who knowingly participate with core
conspirators to achieve a common goal may be members of an overall
conspiracy," even in the absence of contact with other
conspirators. Id. (quoting United States v. Richerson, 833 F.2d
1147, 1154 (5th Cir. 1987)).
Reyes argues that a conspiracy was not established because no
testimony was given by co-defendants Daniel, Nicanor and Hinojosa,
that there was a conspiracy between them. Furthermore, Hill, who
was the main government witness, testified that he did not know
Reyes. Thus, Reyes asserts that no conspiracy existed between him
and any of the individuals named above. The appellant, however,
fails to recognize that a conspiracy can be established through
either direct or circumstantial evidence. In this case, the
circumstantial evidence shows that the defendants were involved in
a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
During trial, testimony was offered by the government
concerning oral statements given by Daniel to agents at the Drug
Enforcement Agency office.13 The statement revealed that a friend14
13
The record reveals the defendant was advised of his Miranda
rights. He acknowledged that he understood his rights and gave the
agents his statement.
14
In testimony over Daniel's statement, Reyes was referred to
as "a friend" in order to avoid the confrontation problems in
Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123 (1968).
18
had asked Daniel to act as a "lookout" by driving to Hebbronville
in his vehicle, while his friend drove a white pickup truck.
Although his friend did not disclose the purpose of the trip, he
thought his friend would be transporting marihuana or an illegal
substance through Hebbronville. Daniel's friend, however, never
arrived at Hebbronville.
In addition, Hill offered the following testimony pursuant to
a plea agreement. He testified that he traveled to Alice, Texas
with Jose Alejandro Trevino to meet Hinojosa at the Alice Motor
Inn. A few days prior to the meeting, he had agreed with Hinojosa
to drive a load of cocaine in the white truck to a destination in
Dallas, Texas. Hill disclosed that he had previously made other
drug "runs" for Hinojosa. Hinojosa had instructed Hill as to the
motel they were to meet at in Alice and the roads he was to take
during the drug operation. When Hill arrived at the motel, he
observed the Inocencio brothers leaving. Hinojosa informed him
that they were going to look for the white Ford truck because it
was late in arriving. Hill stated that he did not know the person
who was delivering the truck, but that he knew the driver of the
truck worked for Hinojosa.
From this testimony, the jury could infer the existence of a
conspiracy and that Hinojosa was the pivotal figure of the
agreement. They could also infer that Reyes conspired to transport
the cocaine for Hinojosa. There is also additional circumstantial
evidence implicating Reyes. As recited before, the radio recovered
from Reyes' truck was programmed to the same frequency as the radio
19
seized from Daniel's Bronco. The radio, and the fact that the
Bronco was apparently waiting for another vehicle on the highway,
supports a "lead car-load car" transportation scheme. Also, among
the papers seized from Daniel and Nicanor were Reyes' pager and
business number, as well as Hinojosa's cellular phone number. A
photograph of Reyes and Daniel was also seized from Daniel's
Bronco. In addition, the cellular phone recovered from the Bronco
displayed a locked-in phone number which was traced to the Alice
Motor Inn. It was also established that someone using Hinojosa's
cellular phone called the cellular phone in Daniel's Bronco on the
morning of the offense. Again, in light of all the evidence
reflected in the record, a jury could infer that a conspiracy had
been formed between the defendants, and that Reyes was an active
and knowing participant in the drug operation.
The conspiracy evidence recited above also establishes that
Reyes aided and abetted the possession offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2.
United States v. Chavez, 947 F.2d 742, 745-46 (5th Cir. 1991). The
government clearly proved that Reyes "became associated with,
participated in, and in some way acted to further the possession
and distribution of the drugs." Id. ("typically, the same evidence
will support both a conspiracy and an aiding and abetting
conviction"). Thus, the evidence also supports the appellant's
conviction on this offense.
C.
As his last point of error, Reyes contests the district
20
court's actions in raising or enhancing his offense level for
obstruction of justice.15 He argues that there is no evidence to
support a finding that his trial testimony was materially untrue
since it was essentially uncontradicted by any co-conspirator's
testimony at trial. He further questions the probation officer's
use of Nicanor's out-of-court statement as evidence that his
testimony was false.16
This Court is unable to entertain Reyes' contention because he
has not provided this Court with a record of the sentencing
hearing, and no justification has been presented for his not doing
so. United States v. Hinojosa, 958 F.2d 624, 632 (5th Cir. 1992).
Although the district court's judgement generally states that the
basis for the sentence is "because the defendant provided an absurd
version of the circumstances of the offense," it fails to reflect
any further reason for increasing the offense level. Moreover,
there is no record of the district court's evaluation of the
defendant's trial testimony for this Court to review. Since the
appellant failed to comply with the rules of appellate procedure by
15
The district court may enhance the offense level by two
points "[i]f the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or
attempted to obstruct or impede the administration of justice
during the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant
offense." U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 (1993). The commission of perjury is an
example of the type of conduct that may justify the enhancement.
Id. § 3C1.1 commentary n.3(b).
16
In the Presentence Report, the probation officer recommended
that Reyes' base offense level be raised for obstruction of justice
for given materially false testimony at trial. The officer based
his recommendation on the contradictory testimony given by law
enforcement officers and Nicanor's statement implicating Reyes in
the conspiracy.
21
failing to provide a thorough record,17 we properly decline to
review this issue. Hinojosa, 958 F.2d at 632-33.
II. Daniel Inocencio
A.
Daniel asserts that the lower court has erred in denying his
motion to suppress because the officer had no objectively
reasonable basis to stop his vehicle. The officer in question,
Deputy Garza, stopped Daniel for following another vehicle too
closely, in violation of TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 6701d, § 61(a)
(Vernon 1977). Daniel argues that this statute requires a specific
result to occur in the presence of the officer, i.e. a collision,
before a crime can be said to have occurred. Daniel's argument is
meritless.
Article 6701d, section 61(a) of the statute defines the
traffic offense for following another vehicle too closely as
follows:
The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when following another
vehicle, maintain an assured clear distance between the two
vehicles, exercising due regard for the speed of such
vehicles, traffic upon and conditions of the street or
highway, so that such motor vehicle can be safely brought to
a stop without colliding with the preceding vehicle, or
veering into other vehicles or objects or persons on or near
the street or highway.
17
"(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).
22
Id. At the suppression hearing, Deputy Garza testified that
Daniel's Bronco and the vehicle being followed were traveling close
to 55 m.p.h. The deputy also testified that the Bronco was
approximately one car length behind the first vehicle. For these
reasons, he pulled the Bronco over. After advising Daniel of the
reason for the stop, Daniel allegedly admitted to his driving
closely and apologized. Daniel did not offer any evidence to
contest the officer's version of the facts. The appellant also
failed to produce a driver's license and proof of insurance when
requested. Furthermore, Daniel also gave Deputy Garza his consent
to search the Bronco and indicated that a weapon was in the
glovebox after being queried about firearms. Appellant did not
challenge his subsequent arrest for not carrying a driver's license
or proof of insurance, nor for illegally carrying a firearm.
The Texas Court of Civil Appeals has held that an officer has
probable cause, under TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. ART. 6701D, § 61(A), to
stop a vehicle for following too closely. Nelson v. State, 827
S.W.2d 52, 54 (Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.], 1992, n.w.h.). In
Nelson, the vehicle (a motorcycle) was observed traveling within
one car length of the first vehicle, prompting the officer to stop
the driver. Id. There was no collision in that case nor was
evidence presented that the driver had veered off the road. Id.
The reviewing court upheld the denial of a motion to suppress under
those facts, and concluded that the officer had probable cause to
stop the defendant for following too closely and that the driver's
subsequent arrest for driving while intoxicated was lawful. Id.
23
Because the facts relating to the stop are similar in both
cases, and because we are bound by Texas precedent, we find that
the trial court properly held that the stop was lawful despite the
absence of a collision. See id.; see also Texas Highway Dep't. v.
Broussard, 615 S.W.2d 326, 329-30 (Tex. Civ. App. -- Fort Worth
1981, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (under art. 6701d, § 61, it is the duty of
anyone operating a vehicle upon the public highways to maintain
such a clear distance behind the preceding vehicle so that, should
the necessity arise, he will be able to slow down or even stop
without colliding with the preceding vehicle; the driver is guilty
of negligence under the statute if the driver fails to maintain
such distance, whether or not there is a collision). Therefore,
any evidence or statements taken as a result of the stop are also
lawful.
B.
In addition, Daniel claims that article 6701d, § 61(a) is
unconstitutionally vague because it does not provide a person with
adequate notice of the prohibited activity. Therefore, the
argument continues, it can not provide an officer with a reasonable
objective basis for the traffic stop and thus, the evidence and
statements taken as a result should have been suppressed by the
trial court. This argument also lacks merit. We are unconvinced
that the statute is vague in any sense. Yet, even if the statute
were declared unconstitutional, it would not affect the legality of
the stop since Deputy Garza had probable cause to believe Daniel
violated the "presumptively valid" statute. See Michigan v.
24
DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 37-40 (1979) ("A prudent officer, in the
course of determining whether respondent had committed an
offense..., should not have been required to anticipate that a
court would later hold the ordinance unconstitutional.");18 accord
United States v. Landry, 903 F.2d 334, 339 (5th Cir. 1990). The
denial of the motion to suppress was proper.
III. Evaristo Hinojosa, Sr.
A.
Hinojosa claims on appeal that the district court committed
plain error in giving the jury charge by making several comments
which relieved the government's burden of proving all the elements
of its case. First, Hinojosa argues that the district judge
effectively directed the jury to find that the substance seized by
agents was in fact cocaine.19 He asserts that a stipulation entered
into with the government, merely reflected that a chemist would
have given testimony at trial that the test sample tested positive
18
The Supreme Court added that the "purpose of the exclusionary
rule is to deter unlawful police action. No conceivable purpose of
deterrence would be served by suppressing evidence which, at the
time it was found on the person of the respondent, was the product
of a lawful arrest and a lawful search. To deter police from
enforcing a presumptively valid statute was never remotely in the
contemplation of even the most zealous advocate of the exclusionary
rule." DeFillippo, 443 U.S. at 38 n.3.
19
For example, the court instructed the jury that "[t]he crime
of possession with intent to distribute cocaine involves these
elements. Number one, to tailor it to the facts of this case, that
the substance in that white pick-up truck was, in fact, cocaine...
And incidently, that's not really a matter of dispute. I think
there's a chemist report in here that everybody has signed off on
and agreed that, in fact, that's true."
25
for cocaine and that it was taken from a three hundred pound
"catch." This, however, was not conclusive proof that the
substance was cocaine. Thus, Hinojosa claims the judge erred in
failing to inform the jury that they could reject the stipulated
testimony and determine, in the alternative, that the substance was
not in fact cocaine.
The record reveals that no objections were made to the court's
charge during trial. In such a case, this Court will uphold the
charge absent plain error. United States v. Davis, 19 F.3d 166,
169 (5th Cir. 1994) ("When no party objects at trial to a jury
instruction, we will uphold the charge absent plain error.").
Plain error occurs only when the instruction, considered as a
whole, was so clearly erroneous as to result in the likelihood of
a grave miscarriage of justice. Id. With this standard in mind,
we review the court's jury instructions.
While the trial court may under no circumstances withdraw any
element of an offense from the jury's consideration in a criminal
case, the judge may comment on the evidence, so long as he
instructs the jury that they are not bound by his comments. United
States v. Canales, 744 F.2d 413, 434 (5th Cir. 1984). A trial
judges's comments may also be error if they "seriously prejudice
the defendant." Id.
Hinojosa has turned a blind eye to the relevant section of the
stipulations entered into by the parties. That section reads as
follows:
It is further stipulated and agreed between the United States
of America and Defendants DANIEL INOCENCIO, NICANOR INOCENCIO,
26
EVARISTO HINOJOSA, SR., and DANIEL ALFONSO REYES and their
attorneys of record, Jose Luis Ramos, Enrique A. Garza,
Eustorgio Perez, and Ruben Garcia, respectively, that the
results of the chemical analysis of Government Exhibits #1,
#2, and #3 performed by Angela M. DeTulleo, Forensic Chemist,
Drug Enforcement Administration, revealed that the substance
was in fact Cocaine (Cocaine HCL).
Government Exhibit 1A at 1-2 (emphasis added). The stipulation
also stated that the chain of custody for Exhibit #1, which
evidenced the 127 bundles of cocaine taken from the Ford truck, was
unbroken. Id. at 2-3. Whether or not the substance was cocaine
was not a disputed issue, instead, it was stipulated to as fact.
A judge may point out undisputed facts to the jury without error.
Moreover, the record clearly shows that the judge's comments were
to be advisory and non-binding, and furthermore, that the jurors
were to be the ultimate fact finders.20 We cannot say that the
trial court's references to "cocaine" prejudiced the appellant in
any way.21 In this respect, the judges comments were proper.
20
For example, the judge stated "I am the judge of the law and
you're the judges of the facts... I also remind you again that
whatever I have said or done here during the trial, and I'm talking
about me personally, is because I -- was following the law and
procedures that I thought were important or basically trying to
keep order or move the case along. Or to the extent that I would
ever ask questions of a witness, that was to bring out things that
I thought were incomplete or confusing so that you could have more
facts to base your decision. But please do not speculate or infer
or conclude as to what opinion you think that I have about the
case. Your function is not to guess what I would do if I were a
juror. Your function is to make your own judgment about the
outcome of this case." In testing the credibility of the
witnesses, the jury was told "you, and you alone, are the only ones
that can decide who you believe and how much you believe them."
21
The record reflects that appellant's own counsel referred to
the substance as cocaine in his closing argument - "...I ask you to
look at that cocaine when you go in and deliberate. Look at it.
It's a lot of cocaine..."
27
B.
Hinojosa also challenges the court's instructions regarding
the government's burden in proving an "intent to distribute" and a
conspiracy. The first instruction was as follows:
And as was correctly said to you yesterday, [intent to
distribute is] something that can be decided also by
circumstances. The sheer volume of it, three hundred pounds.
The way it was packaged. The circumstances of how it was
being carried in a vehicle on the highway. And, of course,
Mr. Hill's testimony, to the extent that you believe this
part, and I don't -- at least I don't think anybody's
challenging him on this part. I mean, whoever else was
involved, he says that when the truck arrived at Alice, he
himself was going to take it and distribute it. That he was
going to take it and pass it on to somebody up in the Fort
Worth/Dallas area.
Well, that's exactly what intent to distribute means.
That the purpose of having that cocaine in somebody's
possession was to distribute it to other people. So Hill
says, if you accept his testimony, that that's what the
purpose was.
Hinojosa claims that this instruction gave credence to Hill's
testimony by stating that such testimony was uncontested. As
recited above, a judge may comment on the evidence to facilitate
the jurors' task of reaching a proper verdict so long as the judge
advises them that they are not bound by his comments. The remarks
above simply reflected the evidence in the record. The judge did
not instruct the jury to take Hill's testimony as true, he merely
suggested that they could believe or disbelieve the testimony in
considering whether there was intent to distribute. Moreover, the
jury was instructed that the fact that Hill had admitted his guilt
did not establish the guilt of anyone else in the case.
Regarding the second instruction, appellant challenges the
court's comments in defining the elements of a conspiracy. The
28
court told the jury:
Because a conspiracy is simply an agreement, an agreement
of the type, for example, -- and lets forget for a minute who
all is involved. But of the type that Hill is describing, an
agreement to get a truck, arrange for a driver, meet and move
the truck from one spot to another spot and deliver the
cocaine and so forth. That would be a conspiracy. That would
be a classic agreement situation where a group of people have
reached an understanding that they're going to do something
illegal. They're going to get possession of cocaine with the
intention of distributing it to other people. So that would
be a classic conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to
distribute it.
So nobody here is arguing, as I get it, that there was
not that kind of conspiracy going on. I think everybody joins
in and says, yeah, there probably was that kind of conspiracy
going on. It's a big amount, it's a big load, it's a valuable
load. It was in the truck and there were people in a hotel
and it was going other places and so forth. So there is
probably a conspiracy going on.
Hinojosa claims that this instruction relieved the government of
its burden of proving that a conspiracy occurred between Hinojosa
and the other defendants. In addition, by accepting that there was
"probably a conspiracy going on," the court allegedly reflected its
bias in favor of the government.
We are also unpersuaded by this argument. In the first
paragraph of the instruction, the district court merely described
an agreement in terms of the facts before the jury. The judge
never instructed the jury that the evidence showed that the
defendants were involved in a conspiracy. The court also gave
additional instructions beyond that statement in which he cited
several other factual examples of a conspiracy and concluded with
the statement that the government had to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that each of the defendants was intentionally involved in the
criminal plan. More importantly, immediately before giving this
29
instruction, the court stressed that it was within the jury's
province to determine who was involved in the conspiracy with Hill:
In other words, by Hill's scenario -- and I'm not telling
-- I'm not endorsing -- please understand this. When I quote
evidence, I'm not saying for you to believe it or not believe
it. I'm just trying to illustrate to you and then it's up to
you to believe it or not believe it. But I'm saying that by
Hill's scenario, it would be he -- he would be involved 'cause
he was going to take it to Dallas; Hinojosa would be involved
cause Hinojosa was there, making the arrangements and so
forth; the two Inocencios were lookouts of some kind, guides;
Reyes was the truck driver; a fellow named Tenorio had some
role in it.
So there may be lots of people, but the question for you
to decide is, are these people involved. Because, of course,
their version, as you've heard argued, is that they did not
know what was going on. That, yes, indeed, it may be Hill, it
may be Tenorio, it may be Trevino, and it may be people in
Fort Worth and Dallas, but not them. They are not involved in
the conspiracy. And that's for you to decide. That's the
question of count one.
Based on the precautionary instructions given by the lower court,
we find no error in this part of the charge.
Regarding the second paragraph of the instruction, the
district court's remarks again reflected the evidence in the
record. The court simply referred to the same evidence that
Hinojosa's counsel relied on in his own closing argument.22 Since
the remarks mirrored Hinojosa's own defense theories, this Court
cannot conclude that plain error was committed.
CONCLUSION
Having determined that none of appellants' complaints present
22
In his closing argument, Hinojosa's attorney argued that he
"believe[d] that the government proved a conspiracy in this case to
conspire with intent to distribute cocaine." However, he argued to
the jury that the government had proved a conspiracy between the
other defendants, not his client.
30
reversible error, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
31