United States v. Luis Rendon-Agudelo

MEMORANDUM

Luis Carlos Rendon-Agudelo appeals his conviction for conspiring to import and distribute cocaine. We affirm.

I

The evidence presented at trial was sufficient to convict Rendon-Agudelo. A defendant may be convicted of knowing participation in a conspiracy if the evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt “even a slight connection” between the defendant and the conspiracy. United States v. Perlaza, 439 F.3d 1149, 1177 (9th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). In this case, the Government presented testimonial, photographic, audio, and video evidence of Rendon-Agude-lo meeting and discussing the proposed cocaine shipments with the other conspirators. A rational juror could have concluded that Rendon-Agudelo was a co-conspirator based on this and other evidence introduced at trial.

II

The district court did not err by admitting testimony about Rendon-Agudelo’s ownership of a drug shipment. The judge struck the testimony, and promptly instructed the jury to disregard the witness’s statement. See Supplemental Excerpts of Record at 671. Jurors are presumed to follow the court’s instructions. See Jones v. United States, 527 U.S. 373 , 400 n. 14, 119 S.Ct.…