Copeland

MEMORANDUM **

Leonard B. Copeland appeals his conviction on two counts of aiding and abetting the bringing of unauthorized aliens to the United States for financial gain, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324 (a)(2)(B)(ii), and two *641 counts of transporting illegal aliens within the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324 (a)(1)(A)(ii). The facts and prior proceedings are known to the parties; they are not cited herein, except as necessary.

Copeland’s contention that 8 U.S.C. § 1324 (a)(2) does not permit aiding and abetting liability is foreclosed by this court’s recent decision in United States v. Angwin, 263 F.3d 979 (9th Cir.2001). We considered and rejected identical arguments in that case, id. at 993-97 , and we do so here as well.

We also reject Copeland’s contention that his conviction for bringing aliens to the United States cannot stand because the offense is complete once the alien crosses the border. Angwin established that liability may attach even to a defendant who renders his direct aid to the principal only within the United States. Id. at 997-98 . Even assuming that Copeland properly preserved a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the…