United States v. George Humberto Bosch, Sr.

George Humberto Bosch, Sr., appeals his conviction for conspiracy to aid and abet possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and unlawful transfer and possession of counterfeit social security cards. We reverse Bosch’s conviction on the count of conspiracy to defraud the United States but affirm the remaining convictions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Bosch owned and operated an investigative and Hispanic services agency in Glendale, California. Through this business, Bosch became involved with Colombian drug dealers. Evidence indicated that in the course of the association, he provided false business paperwork documenting a fictitious cattle sale in South America so that the dealers could launder the proceeds of their drug sales through one of the dealers’ corporate bank accounts; helped to arrange a drug sale; helped arrange and provide documentation for a marriage for one of the dealers for immigration purposes; and, with his son, provided apartments and storage for the dealers and their cocaine, money, and guns.

Two of the dealers were arrested and agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for their…