United States v. Humberto Rodriguez-Ramirez, United States of America v. Camilo Aispuro-Llanes

Humberto Rodriguez-Ramirez (“Rodriguez”) and Camilo Aispuro-Llanes (“Aispuro”) appeal from their convictions under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Through the intercession of a restaurant proprietress in Stockton, California, Rodriguez was introduced in late September or early October 1983 to Cataliano Nunez, an undercover informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), who posed as a buyer of drugs. On October 5, 1983, Rodriguez and Nunez met to arrange a drug deal with Edward Casares, a DEA agent posing as Nunez’s brother-in-law and as a dealer in large amounts of heroin. Rodriguez left the meeting and later rejoined the other two at the parking lot of an auto supply store, where he provided them with two samples of heroin. Another meeting was arranged for October 7 in order to consummate the heroin deal.

On October 7, and following earlier telephone contacts, Rodriguez met with Aispuro to discuss the acquisition of heroin. Later that afternoon, Rodriguez and Aispuro met outside the former’s house, after which Rodriguez telephoned Nunez to announce that the heroin had arrived and to…