United States v. Oscar Smith and Rene Rodriguez Villarreal

GODBOLD, Circuit Judge:

Defendants appeal from convictions of possession of 30 pounds of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The issue is the validity of the arrests of the defendants and the searches of two automobiles, each occupied by one of the defendants. We hold that the arrests and searches were invalid and reverse the convictions.

November 10, 1975, Agent Lofstrum of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), presumably stationed at Brownsville, Texas, received from his supervisor an unsigned letter containing the following information:

Heroin in large amounts packed into…