United States v. Mary Josephine Vasquez

TANG, Circuit Judge.

Appellant appeals her conviction by a jury for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Appellant claims numerous errors but the principal issue we determine is whether a fair trial was denied because members of the jury saw during their deliberations the official court file which accidentally had been taken into the jury room. We conclude that this extrinsic prejudicial evidence denied appellant due process of law and reverse.

Appellant was originally indicted in Count I for knowingly and wilfully making false statements to United States customs officials in violation of 18 U.S.C. §…