Maria Mercedes Chavez-Martinez v. United States

Appellant was convicted on two counts, one of violating Title 21, United States Code, Section 173 , knowing importation of 130 ounces of heroin and 20 ounces of cocaine into the United States from Mexico, and Count 2, knowing concealment and facilitation of the transportation and concealment of the same narcotics. She now appeals that conviction in forma pauperis ( 28 U.S.C. § 1291 ). On March 5, 1968, appellant was sentenced to twenty years on each count, the sentences to run concurrently.

Appellant entered the United States from Mexicali, Mexico, on November 10, 1967, at the Port of Calexico. She was alone and driving a beige 1959 Plymouth two-door sedan, license No. QXR-027. There were two similar license numbers on the then current “look out” list at the Port of Entry, to wit, OYR-027 and OXR-027, but the cars with these numbers were not the same make as that driven by appellant.

Inspector Patty was on a primary inspection line on November 10th and no ticed the similarity of the number on the car driven by appellant to those on the look out list. He asked appellant her nationality, citizenship and whether she was bringing anything from Mexico. To the last question, she…