United States v. Alfonso Trujillo-Tirado

Appellant was convicted of smuggling marihuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 176a. We affirm.

Appellant and an unidentified passenger entered this country from Mexico at the port of entry at Calexico, California. A search of appellant’s vehicle revealed marihuana inside a spare tire in the trunk. Appellant testified that he did not know his passenger, but had picked him up at a gas station near the border, and that the passenger had placed a tire he was carrying in the trunk of appellant’s car. Border authorities testified there were two tires in the trunk, one fastened and one loose, and that…