United States v. Edilberto Mendoza-Acevedo

COFFIN, Senior Circuit Judge.

Appellant Mendoza was enroute from his native Colombia to Pisa, Italy when a customs inspection at the airport in San Juan revealed cocaine in his shoes and in the handbag he carried off the plane. He was arrested, tried and convicted on drug possession, importation and trafficking charges. On appeal, he claims the court erred in instructing the jury and in refusing to hold a hearing on the voluntariness of incriminating statements. We affirm.

I. Background

Defendant testified at trial that neither the shoes he was wearing nor the handbag he was carrying belonged to…