United States v. Julio Wasserteil, Hector Camacho and Menachem Friedman

Julio Wasserteil, Hector Camacho and Menachem Friedman appeal from their criminal convictions on three count indict- merits, one count of conspiracy to smuggle merchandise, 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 , 545 and two counts of smuggling merchandise, 18 U.S.C. § 545 .

We affirm.

I. Factual Background

On October 16, 1977, United States Customs Agent Steven Dodge was assigned to a watch movement smuggling investigation. This assignment was pursuant to a phone call from the New York customs office stating that a reliable informant had given them information that Friedman was en route to Los Angeles from New York to pick up smuggled watch movements. The file supplied by the New York office contained previous reports from the informant identifying Wasserteil as a partner in a smuggling operation with Friedman.

Based on the informant’s information, New York agents observed Friedman board a flight from New York to Los Angeles. When Friedman arrived in Los Angeles, he was observed proceeding to the Beverly Laurel Hotel, which was apparently full, so he went to the nearby Crest Motel. The next morning, Friedman walked back to the Beverly Laurel where he was picked up by Wasserteil in a car…