United States v. Robert Fred Bishop

Robert Fred Bishop, appellant herein, was charged in an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, along with one Bob Maynard, his co-defendant, with conspiracy to violate 21 U.S.C. § 176a. After a jury trial, appellant was found guilty and sentenced to prison. This court has jurisdiction of his appeal under 28 U.S. C. § 1291.

Appellant’s main contention is that there was insufficient evidence to justify his conviction. We disagree.

The evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the government showed, inter alia, the following facts. On November 21, 1969, appellant and co-defendant Maynard registered at the Bowman Hotel in Nogales, Arizona. This hotel is three blocks from the border of Mexico. The registration card signed by one of the two read, “Ralph Johnson and party, Columbus, Ohio.” They requested separate rooms, but on the following day they moved into the same room and stayed there until November 26. Appellant used the name “Johnson” and Maynard used the name “Harris” during their stay at the hotel. Between November 21 and November 26, they were seen together on several occasions and two days after their arrival both men were…