United States v. Vincent Franklin Bennett

FISHER, Circuit Judge:

This case arises from the boarding and search of defendant-appellant Vincent Franklin Bennett’s boat by members of a joint task force targeting smuggling activity from Mexico into Southern California. Coronado Police Officer Keith James initially spotted Bennett’s boat near the U.S.Mexico border on January 27, 2000, as the boat traveled north along the California coastline. Officer Sandy Joseph Sena, another task force member, boarded Bennett’s boat at the entrance to San Diego Bay and eventually directed Bennett to dock his boat.

After the docking, members of the task…