United States v. Lopez-Flores

SCHROEDER, Circuit Judge:

Defendants Jose Lopez-Flores, Jose Eduardo Hernandez, Jose Perez-Garcia and Jaime Ortiz-Mejia appeal their convictions after jury trial for hostage taking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203(a), and use of a firearm in a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The appellants held captive an alien who had been smuggled illegally into the United States. They demanded an amount of money for his release that was substantially higher than the smuggling fee the alien had agreed to pay.

Appellants raise two principal issues on appeal. First, they argue that the…