United States v. Renado Smith

HULL, Circuit Judge:

After a jury trial, defendants Renado Smith and Richard Delancy appeal their convictions for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, alien smuggling, and attempted illegal reentry. Both defendants argue that at trial the district court erred in admitting the videotaped deposition testimony of passenger Vanessa Armstrong Vixama, a smuggled alien in their boat. Smith also argues that the prosecutor's improper comments to the jury during closing argument warrant a new trial. After careful review of the record and the parties' briefs, and with the benefit of oral argument, we…