United States v. Medina-Copete

LUCERO, Circuit Judge.

These appeals, brought to us by Maria Vianey Medina-Copete (“Medina”) and Rafael Goxcon-Chagal (“Goxcon”) following them convictions on drug trafficking charges, requires us to consider an issue of first impression in our circuit. During the trial, the district court allowed a purported expert on certain religious iconography to testify that veneration of a figure known as “Santa Muerte” was so connected with drug trafficking as to constitute evidence that the occupants of the vehicle were aware of the presence of drugs in a secret compartment. In addition to qualifying…