United States v. Brenda Joyce Meyer

Brenda Joyce Meyer was charged in a two count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 545. Count One charged that she smuggled merchandise into the United States from Mexico; Count Two charged that she facilitated the transportation and concealment of such illegally imported merchandise after importation. The District Court, sitting without a jury, found her not guilty as to Count One and guilty as to Count Two. She appeals. We reverse.

The government’s evidence is essentially undisputed. When Meyer was stopped for a routine immigration search at an Immigration Patrol inspection site, some 65…