United States v. Michael Andrew Smith, AKA the Bird

TROTT, Circuit Judge.

Overview

Between 1996 and 1998, an extensive organization attempted to import into the United States three large loads of marijuana. Appellant Michael Smith was involved in the first two of those attempts. The organization initially attempted to import marijuana on a boat named the “OK Tedi.” When the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the OK Tedi, the crew set fire to the vessel. Smith was not on board the OK Tedi, but he was found nearby on a small support craft.

A year later, the organization attempted to import marijuana from Cambodia. That attempt failed when Cambodian…