United States First Circuit
US v. Rivera-Rodriguez, 08-1799
District court's conviction of defendants for drug trafficking conspiracy, as part of a large organization known as "Las Avispas Dos," in Puerto Rico, and its imposition of lengthy prison terms are affirmed where: 1) district court did not abuse its discretion regarding the evidentiary rulings and the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient for the jury to convict defendants; 2) the ex parte conversations the district judge held with prospective jurors did not amount to plain error; 3) the district court did not err when it provided a defendant with the opportunity to allocute during sentencing; 4) the district court did not err when it found a co-defendant individually responsible for at least 4.5 kilograms of crack cocaine; and 5) the district court committed no error concerning the prior criminal histories of defendants when calculating their sentences.
Appellate Information
- Decided 08/25/2010
- Published 08/25/2010
Judges
Court
- United States First Circuit
Counsel
- For Appellant:
- Anita Hill-Adames, Luke V. Cass