United States v. Rigoberto Segundo Pineda Mejias

The appellant, Rigoberto Pineda Mejias, was found guilty following a jury trial in the district court on a one count indictment charging him with a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 174 (Concealed Importation of Cocaine). This court’s jurisdiction to review the conviction rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We have reviewed the entire proceeding and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The appellant, a Chilean national, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight originating in Argentina. Los Angeles was the flight’s first stop within the United States. His baggage was inspected and he passed through customs. A short time thereafter, another Chilean passenger on the same flight was arrested for attempting to conceal contraband, later ascertained to be five pounds of cocaine.

An airline employee, who had seen appellant arrive on the flight from South America and pass through customs, observed the appellant, about an hour after the flight’s arrival, pacing and nervously looking toward the customs area. Knowing that a passenger from Chile had been taken into custody, the employee then examined the passenger manifest and noted that the only two passengers from Chile had pooled their…