Opinion ID: 65055
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Control and direction of the operation

Text: “[K]nowledge of the existence of drugs may be inferred from control over the location in which they are found.” United States v. Moreno, 185 F.3d 465, 471 (5th Cir. 1999). Castillo, Pellot, and Compean each testified that Zuniga was the only one who knew where to pick up the cars in Mexico, and he had possession of the keys to those cars. After they crossed the border into Texas, the drivers were required to check in with Zuniga, who would give them directions on where to drive the car. Compean testified that he was driving behind Pellot the day Pellot was arrested. Compean stated that he called Zuniga for instructions and was told to keep driving to Brownsville. Castillo also testified that while he was driving across the border, Zuniga would tell him “don’t be nervous, just cross it.” Castillo understood that the purpose of these directions was to avoid becoming conspicuous to a border agent because the car was loaded with drugs. In Dallas, Zuniga would specify which of several hotels the drivers were to stay in and would provide them with money to pay for the accommodations. Each driver testified that Zuniga was the only one who had control over the cash during these trips. Pellot testified that when they crossed the border with a large amount of cash in the car, Zuniga would divide up the money so that each of them had less than $10,000 because any amount more than that needed to be declared upon entry. After crossing, Zuniga would take the money back and pay the drivers.