Opinion ID: 3052350
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: evidence supporting singh’s “aiding and

Text: ABETTING” [3] Much of the evidence relied upon by the government to support its aiding and abetting theory is insufficient under Lopez because it shows that Singh associated with others who were transporting aliens, but falls short of providing details that Singh made arrangements with other smugglers prior to the completion of Patel’s transport, and that the principals were induced by his aid to “bring” Patel “to” the country as alleged in Count 10. Nevertheless, at least on plain error review, we are satisfied that the evidence of the events of January 26, 2006 provides sufficient link and detail to allow a rational trier of fact to find the elements of aiding and abetting beyond a reasonable doubt under Lopez. In particular, the evidence shows that in the hours before Patel entered the United States, Singh sought smuggling work, sealed a deal on the arrangements for the smuggling, including a return of the false passport that could be used, and agreed to assist fulfilling the smuggling contract for $2000 by traveling with Patel to New York. These details, worked out in advance, were arguably central to the principals’ decision to bring Patel to the United States. [4] Without a doubt, Singh was not a newcomer to the smuggling business when he facilitated the arrangements for Patel in January 2006. In addition to his recruitment of a felUNITED STATES v. SINGH 8821 low taxi driver into the smuggling operation, Singh himself earlier twice crossed the border into Canada to meet with Raman Pathania, who was part of the Maltani smuggling operation, to discuss developing alternate smuggling routes. [5] There is also evidence that Singh engaged in preparatory and planning activity in relation to a “bringing to” offense. Harjeevan Parhar, another cooperating defendant, described that during a meeting at a house in Canada, he discussed with Singh and Pathania how aliens would be transported and that “next time or any other time that we would do this legal [sic] activity and smuggling aliens, that all the work would go to Mr. Singh.” Singh said that “he wanted the work to go through him, not through anyone else.” Parhar also testified that, in January 2006, he took part in a couple of telephone conversations in which Singh asked if there were any more aliens coming. He also heard another member of the conspiracy tell Singh that people were coming and to be ready, though he did not say when this conversation took place. This evidence establishes that Singh sought work for the smuggling operation, and took an active role in coordinating with others in the conspiracy. [6] Even this background evidence is insufficient standing on its own to show that Singh actually aided and abetted bringing Patel to the United States. However, additional and more specific evidence—a phone conversation in close proximity to Patel’s arrival—provides a nexus between Singh’s preparatory and collaborative work and the events related to Patel. On January 26, 2006, at 1:16 p.m., prior to Patel’s crossing, Singh called Multani, telling Multani that he was calling to “find out if there is some work to do.” Multani then informed Singh there was work, and that it “has not started yet.” They then had an exchange in which Singh agreed to “drop off” the person and bring back the passport for a fee of $2,000. Preparation to undertake the transporting of an illegal alien within the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324(a) 8822 UNITED STATES v. SINGH (1)(A)(ii), 1324(a)(1)(v)(ii), and 1324(a)(1)(B)(I), does not by itself necessarily establish intent to aid a “brings to” offense. For example, in Lopez, we rejected the government’s similar argument that Lopez’s decision to purchase a Ford Expedition in the United States four days before it was used in the offense, and pick up the vehicle on the day she was asked to transport the aliens from a drop-off point in the United States to another domestic destination, established intent to aid a “brings to” offense. Lopez, 484 F.3d at 1200. Thus, to the extent that Singh’s preparatory calls involved planning for the transporting of an illegal alien within the United States, they are not enough to establish intent to aid a “brings to” offense. The calls are relevant, however, to Singh’s participation in an overall “brings to” scheme. Likewise, even the commission of the crime of transporting of an illegal alien within the United States does not, by itself, establish intent to aid a “brings to” offense. Thus, the fact that Patel crossed the border and was delivered to the Sea-Tac Inn, Singh picked up Patel from the hotel, drove her to the airport, bought her an airplane ticket with a credit card, and escorted her to New York is still not enough, without more, to establish sufficient evidence to support the conviction. [7] However, there is more. The “work” that Singh agreed to do prior to the start of the “brings to” offense included not just work assisting with state-side transport, but also included bringing the passport back to the principals in Canada. When Multani described the “work,” he stated that Singh would “have to go along to [with Patel to the] drop off, and bring the book back.” Singh agreed, “Yes, babaji, I’ll drop off. Where do I have to go?” and Multani again stressed that the work was more than the drop-off, repeating with more clarity that Singh would “[h]ave to bring the book back and give it in Vancouver.” After hearing that the contract was valued at $2000 “if it pans out,” Singh confirmed his participation: “All right.” This additional agreement provides critical support for the conviction because the jury could have concluded that the principals would not have brought Patel into the United States UNITED STATES v. SINGH 8823 without first securing Singh’s agreement to ensure the continued operation of the human smuggling conspiracy by returning the passport to them. [8] Thus, unlike the circumstances in Lopez, prior to the completion of the “brings to” offense, Singh arguably induced the principals to “bring” the alien “to” the United States, despite the fact that Singh did not assist in the “bringing” of the alien herself. Through his discussions with the principals, he “willingly associated,” Lopez, 484 F.3d at 1199 (internal quotation marks omitted), himself with the smuggling enterprise, encouraged Multani to bring Patel across the border so that Singh could have work and get paid, and materially assisted the conspiracy by agreeing to bring back the passport, which was a valuable tool of the operation. Ultimately, Singh’s conduct facilitated the final leg of the journey from Canada into the United States, which is the relevant part of the journey for criminal liability under Count 10. What matters as far as Singh’s liability is that a rational trier of fact viewing the evidence could conclude that he induced, aided, encouraged, or counseled Multani and others in committing the “bringing to” offense with “specific intent to facilitate the commission of [the] crime.” Gaskins, 849 F.2d at 459. Accordingly, in light of the fact that we have expressly left open the question of aiding and abetting liability for secondary state-side transporters and the fact that Singh’s actions encompass much more than that, we conclude that the Singh’s conviction under Count 10 does not rise to the level or plain error or manifest injustice.