Opinion ID: 70859
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Facts Established at the First Trial

Text: 3 On May 31, 1989, the government charged Garcia and seven codefendants with conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine, conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleged the conspiracy existed [f]rom in or about late March, 1988 to on or about April 21, 1988. The case proceeded to trial against Garcia and three codefendants. 1 4 The government summarizes the evidence against Garcia in the first trial as follows: 5 The evidence presented ... showed a scheme involving several co-defendants to import approximately 975 pounds of cocaine with a wholesale value in excess of $6 million from Mexico into the Florida Keys. The co-conspirators used a 50-foot vessel named the Sea Lark which was specially fitted with a hidden compartment in a cabinet beneath the steering wheel. 6 With co-defendant Manuel Fiallo as captain and a crew consisting of co-defendants Ricardo Gaetano and Pedro Martinez, the Sea Lark traveled from Key Largo, Florida, to Progresso, Mexico, where it cleared Customs. From there, the Sea Lark headed to Carmen Island, off the coast of Mexico, where approximately 400 duffel bags filled with cocaine were loaded. Once the cocaine had been secreted aboard the Sea Lark, it headed back to South Florida. 7 The vessel developed engine problems on the return voyage. Co-defendant Antonio Gonzalez contacted a boat mechanic, co-defendant Hector Cabrera, and requested that he perform repairs on the Sea Lark at sea. Cabrera agreed; [on or about April 17, 1988,] he left Key Largo aboard a 35-foot sportfisherman and met the Sea Lark at the Alacran Reef where he successfully repaired its engines. 8 Because of his concern that the engines of the Sea Lark might develop additional problems, Fiallo requested that Cabrera remain close to the Sea Lark for the remainder [of] the trip to Key Largo. During the ensuing journey the Coast Guard stopped and searched both boats; the Coast Guard boarding party did not locate the cocaine that was secreted on the Sea Lark. 9 When the Sea Lark developed additional engine troubles and it was determined that Cabrera's sportfisherman was unable to tow it, a third vessel, the Miss Heineken, was dispatched from Key Largo to provide assistance. Ultimately, all three boats returned safely to Key Largo. Acting on an anonymous tip, Customs officials conducted an extensive search of the Sea Lark which ultimately revealed 450 packages of cocaine weighing about 975 pounds hidden in the secret compartment. The wholesale value of the cocaine was estimated to be in excess of $6 million. 10 The only evidence of appellant Garcia's participation in that scheme was the testimony of co-defendant Cabrera, who pleaded guilty and testified for the government at trial. [On or about April 17, 1988,] Cabrera traveled in the 50-foot sportfisherman to the Alacran Reef to provide mechanical assistance to the Sea Lark and then accompanied that vessel to Key Largo. Cabrera testified that he invited Garcia to accompany him on the trip as his helper because he knew that Garcia was in sort of a squeeze economically. According to Cabrera's testimony, he did not notice any cargo on the Sea Lark when he met it at sea; in fact, Cabrera testified that he did not know what Fiallo and his crew were doing at sea and he learned the purpose of the voyage only after the Sea Lark had been seized by the authorities in Key Largo. Upon his return to Key Largo, Cabrera and Garcia went to the home of co-defendant Juan Batista before they went their separate ways; there was no discussion regarding the shipment of cocaine at Batista's house. 11 Government's brief, pp. 3-5 (record citations omitted). 12 At the close of all the evidence at the first trial, Garcia moved for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29. Garcia argued that the evidence was insufficient to show anything more than his mere presence at the scene of the crime because even Cabrera, who went aboard the Sea Lark to perform repairs, testified that he himself did not know about the cocaine until later and well after the Sea Lark had arrived in Key Largo. There was no evidence that Garcia had gone aboard the Sea Lark at any time, no evidence that he knew there was cocaine aboard the Sea Lark, and no evidence he knew anything about the conspiracy. The district court granted Garcia's motion for judgment of acquittal, as to all four counts, explaining that there has to be some showing that Alfredo Garcia knowingly joined in [the] conspiracy or knowingly intended to break the law, and there had been none. 13