United States v. Leonid Vgeri, United States of America v. Ervin Stramarko

Vgeri appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Stra-marko appeals his conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We affirm both convictions and Vgeri’s sentence, and dismiss Vgeri’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

BACKGROUND

On June 18, 1993, Maria Gogue, an informant, met DEA Special Agent Jonathan Anderson behind her residence. She told him that Ervin Stramarko .would be bringing cocaine to Guam. Gogue also indicated that she was upset with Stramarko because he had not compensated her in connection with a previous cocaine transaction. Agent Anderson asked Gogue to get more information about the anticipated cocaine shipment.

Approximately a week later, Gogue called Agent Anderson and told him that a man named “Louie,” later identified as Vgeri, had just arrived in Guam with a large quantity of cocaine. According to Gogue, Stramarko had driven Vgeri to her apartment. There, Vgeri showed her strapping marks on his body that he claimed were caused by taping the cocaine around his waist before boarding a flight to the island. She also told Agent Anderson that Vgeri was…