Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Juan VASQUEZ-MONTES, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-04-26
Citations: 96 F. App'x 204
Docket Number: No. 03-51022
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Juan VASQUEZ-MONTES, Defendant—Appellant.
Judges: Before REYNALDO G. GARZA, DAVIS, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 96
Pages: 204–205

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Juan VASQUEZ-MONTES, Defendant—Appellant.
No. 03-51022.
SUMMARY CALENDAR
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
April 26, 2004.
Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant US Attorney, Margaret M. Embry, US Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Nancy Gosnell Revelette, El Paso, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before REYNALDO G. GARZA, DAVIS, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
REYNALDO G. GARZA, Circuit Judge.
In this appeal, we review the conviction of Defendant — Appellant, Juan VasquezMontes, for possession with intent to distribute and for importation of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, 952, and 960. For the following reasons, we uphold the conviction.
Vasquez argues that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury's finding that he knew there was marijuana hidden in the vehicle he was driving when he was arrested trying to enter the United States from Mexico.
Ordinarily, a jury may infer a defendant's guilty knowledge from his control over a drug-laden vehicle, but when drugs are contained in a hidden compartment, we require additional circumstantial evidence that demonstrates guilty knowledge. United States v. Villarreal, 324 F.3d 319, 324 (5th Cir.2003). Vasquez's inconsistent statements to federal agents regarding the purpose of his trip to Mexico are strong evidence of his guilty knowledge. United States v. Diaz-Carreon, 915 F.2d 951, 954-55 (5th Cir.1990). His implausible explanations for his actions also constitute persuasive circumstantial evidence of his consciousness of guilt. Id. at 955. Vasquez was warned that the man recruiting him to drive the car from Mexico to the United States had previously recruited one of Vasquez's friends for a similar job that led to that man's arrest and imprisonment. Finally, the value of the marijuana involved in this offense supports the jury's finding that Vasquez knew there were drugs hidden in the vehicle. See Villarreal, 324 F.3d at 324.
Vasquez's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence fails because a reasonable trier of fact could have found that the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Bell, 678 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir.1982), aff'd on other grounds, 462 U.S. 356, 103 S.Ct. 2398, 76 L.Ed.2d 638 (1983). For the foregoing reasons, we uphold the conviction.
. Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.