United States v. David Keith Hensel and Timothy D. Leonard

KRAVITCH,

Circuit Judge:.

Appellants were convicted by a jury both for conspiracy to possess and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. §§ 955a(a) and 955c, and for setting their vessel afire, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2275. Both appellants raise numerous issues on appeal. Because we find no merit to appellants’ claims, we affirm.

I. Background

While on a routine surveillance patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, the helicopter pilot from the Coast Guard Cutter DEPENDABLE sighted a shrimping vessel on the stern of which was printed PATSY ANN, home port Key West, Florida. The…