United States v. Karen Shapiro, United States of America v. Rebecca Howard

*595NORRIS, Circuit Judge:

Shapiro and Howard appeal from their conviction, after trial by jury, of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (1976), and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (1976). Because we find that the appellants’ motion for mistrial should have been granted by the district court, we reverse.

I

Facts

On the evening of November 13, 1979, three local law enforcement officers, working undercover in a joint investigation with agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, drove to the…