US v. Barajas-Montoya

Filing 920070411

Opinion

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 06-4869

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, versus JOSE BARAJAS-MONTOYA, Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at Alexandria. Leonie M. Brinkema, District Judge. (1:06-cr-00105-LMB)

Submitted:

March 9, 2007

Decided:

April 11, 2007

Before WILKINSON and SHEDD, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

David J. Kiyonaga, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellant. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney, Patricia T. Giles, Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM: A jury convicted Jose Barajas-Montoya ("Barajas") of one count of illegally transporting illegal aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) (2000). On appeal, Barajas claims the

evidence was insufficient to support the conviction because he did not know the persons he was transporting were illegal aliens. affirm the conviction and sentence. In a claim of insufficient evidence, the jury's verdict must be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the Government, to support it. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80 (1942). See Glasser v. We

We define substantial

evidence as evidence that a reasonable factfinder could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Alerre, 430 F.3d 681, 693 (4th We must consider

Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 1925 (2006).

circumstantial as well as direct evidence, and allow the government the benefit of all reasonable inferences from the facts proven to those sought to be established. F.2d 1018, 1021 (4th Cir. 1982). determinations on appeal. United States v. Tresvant, 677 We do not review credibility

See Glasser, 315 U.S. at 80.

The elements of a § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) violation are "(1) the transporting or moving of an alien within the United States, (2) that the alien was present in violation of law, (3) that the defendant was aware of the alien's status, and

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(4) that the defendant acted willfully in furtherance of the alien's violation of the law." United States v. Barajas-Chavez, Awareness of illegal status

162 F.3d 1285, 1287 (10th Cir. 1999).

can be shown by actual knowledge or reckless disregard for the fact that the aliens were in the country illegally. United States v. It is only the

Nolasco-Rosas, 286 F.3d 762, 765 (5th Cir. 2002). third element that Barajas challenges.

Evidence showed Barajas was with some or all the illegal aliens for about twenty-seven hours. The evidence also showed no The passengers were

one except for one passenger had any luggage. dirty and smelled.

In addition, the passengers spoke Spanish and

discussed within Barajas's earshot about their illegal entry into the United States, including the use of "coyotes". Barajas's

partner questioned one person about police presence at a drop-off point. If Barajas did not have actual knowledge of his passengers' illegal status, the evidence to supports facts, the which finding showed he a was high

deliberately

indifferent

the

probability that the passengers were illegal aliens.

See United

States v. Zlatogur, 271 F.3d 1025, 1029 (11th Cir. 2001) (defining reckless disregard in relation to transporting illegal aliens). Accordingly, we affirm the conviction and sentence. We

dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions

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are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

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