United States v. Jose A. Alonso

Jose Alonso was convicted of one count of conspiracy, and one count of fraud and attempted fraud in connection with access devices (credit cards) in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 , 1029(a)(1), and 1029(b)(1). The arrest and conviction stem from Alonso’s participation in a scheme in which Alonso provided fake credit cards to his coeonspirators. He and his coconspirators then would enlist a “friendly” store that would process their fraudulent charges and provide cash or jewelry. The Secret Service in conjunction with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arranged a sting, and arrested Alonso and two of his coconspirators.

A jury convicted Alonso on September 17, 1998. On February 11, 1994, the district court sentenced him to 30 months incarceration. On appeal, Alonso raises a variety of issues regarding his conviction and sentence. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I.

Secret Service agents Operskalski and Brenner went undercover to a hotel in Las Vegas. They met with an individual who introduced them to Peloche, one of the conspirators.

When agent Operskalski told Peloche that he had friends in the jewelry business, Pe-loche proposed the scheme: Peloche had a…