United States v. Devila

In 1996, defendants/appellants Jurgen Preciado, Bladimir Devila, Rauldino Rivera, Cesar Vallecilla-Orobio and Avery Lightborne were indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, Florida with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, while crewmembers on board the vessel “Marbella II”, a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 46 U.S.C.App. §§ 1903(a), (j), and (g) (Count I); and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 46 U.S.CApp. §§ 1903(a) and (g), and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Count II).

After a ten-day jury trial in 1997, the jury…