Opinion ID: 775590
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Angwin's Conviction for Bringing Illegal Aliens to the Country

Text: 65 Angwin argues that the evidence was not sufficient for him to be found guilty of aiding and abetting the bringing of aliens to the United States since the aliens had already entered the country when he picked them up. Angwin also asserts that the United States did not present adequate evidence that he committed the offense for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. 66
67 Angwin asserts that a person cannot aid and abet a completed crime. At most, Angwin argues, he was guilty of transporting aliens within the United States under section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii), not aiding and abetting the bringing of aliens to the country under section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii). 68 Angwin's argument ignores the role he played in bringing the aliens to the United States. The aliens Angwin transported were traveling to Los Angeles, Angwin met them at a prearranged location shortly after some of them arrived at the United States, and he immediately helped transport them north. Under those circumstances a rational jury could easily conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Angwin aided and abetted a smuggling operation to bring aliens to the United States. His role in meeting the aliens at a prearranged location just north of the border within minutes of their arrival at the United States was essential to the success of the entire operation. While there may be some circumstances where a defendant's prearranged transportation of aliens is so remote in time and/or geography from the aliens' entry into the United States that no rational jury could conclude that the defendant aided and abetted the bringing of the aliens to the United States, such circumstances are not present here. 69
70 Angwin also claims that the United States did not introduce enough evidence to prove the financial gain element of the smuggling charge. To be guilty under section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii), a defendant must commit the offense for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. See 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii). Angwin asserts that there was inadequate evidence of his personal financial gain such as an agreement to pay or an actual payment of money to him. 71 Angwin's argument is without merit. The statute does not require evidence of an actual payment or even an agreement to pay. It merely requires that the offense was done for the purpose of financial gain. Given Vincente-Morales' testimony that he expected that he would have to pay for his transportation once he arrived in Los Angeles, the substantial evidence of the defendant's guilt, and the lack of any other possible explanation for Angwin's conduct, the evidence was more than sufficient for a rational jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Angwin committed the offense for the purpose of private financial gain. 72