United States v. Mariano Hernandez-Muniz

TACHA, Circuit Judge.

Defendant/Appellant Mariano Hernandez-Muniz appeals his federal court conviction for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). He alleges several trial errors that he claims deprived him of his constitutional rights and require reversal of his conviction. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

Background

On September 21, 1996, Hernandez-Muniz and co-defendant Robert Abbud drove a car from Mexico into the United States Border Patrol checkpoint at Orogrande, New Mexico. In response…