United States v. Patricia Guzman

On July 29, 1968, at approximately 11:20 P.M., appellant and her twleve year old daughter, Michelle Ann, entered the United States by automobile from Mexico at the San Ysidro, California, Port of Entry. Following routine questioning regarding citizenship (“United States”) and purchases made in Mexico (“plaster of paris and glass items”), the Customs Inspector requested appellant to open the trunk. Cursory inspection disclosed “what appeared to be a false compartment.” A more thorough inspection of this “compartment” conducted at the secondary inspection area resulted in the discovery of 55 pounds of marihuana and 385,000 amphetamine tablets.

Appellant was charged in a four count indictment with smuggling the marihuana and amphetamine tablets into the United States from Mexico (Counts I and III), violations of 21 U.S.C. § 176a and 18 U.S.C. § 545 , respectively, and with facilitating the transportation thereof (Counts II and IV), also respective violations of 21 U.S.C. § 176a and 18 U.S.C. § 545 . At a jury trial, appellant was found guilty on all counts.

Appellant initially argues that the verdicts are not supported by substantial evidence. At the core of her position is the…