Opinion ID: 534522
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: As to Defendant Erwin Clotida

Text: 31 Clotida failed to renew his Rule 29 motion at the close of the entire case after having offered evidence in his own defense. This failure, therefore, constitutes a waiver of Clotida's Rule 29(a) motion. See United States v. Kilcullen, 546 F.2d 435, 441 (1st Cir.1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 906, 97 S.Ct. 1175, 51 L.Ed.2d 582 (1977). Hence, on this appeal, Clotida may only prevail if it is demonstrated, after an examination of all the evidence offered at trial, that it would be a gross or manifest injustice to sustain the conviction. See United States v. Jimenez-Perez, 869 F.2d 9, 11 (1st Cir.1989); United States v. Cheung, 836 F.2d 729, 730 n. 1 (1st Cir.1988) (per curiam). 32 The evidence at the trial reveals clearly that there is no doubt that Clotida carried the luggage or suitcases for financial gain. Furthermore, the circumstances indicate that Clotida was in constructive possession of the luggage. It is not questioned that Clotida was in possession and control of the baggage claim tickets. In addition, on Clotida's person was found the chemical formula to extract the cocaine from the impregnated clothing. 33 Other than the testimony of Clotida, which was refuted by the government and disbelieved by the jury, there is no evidence to rebut the inference that Clotida knew that the clothing was impregnated with cocaine. Sergeant Gomez testified that Clotida admitted his knowledge of the cocaine in the suitcase, and, in fact, tried to conceal its odor by spraying with deodorant. Moreover, Clotida's spontaneous utterance at the Customs enclosure area that there were 32 pieces of clothing ... saturated with cocaine was found by the district court to be voluntarily given ... prompted by himself without any question propounded to him. 34 Hence, as to Clotida, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the verdict of the jury. His testimony, that he was vacationing in Ecuador in search of a beach, and there met a stranger from whom he received the impregnated clothes, strains credibility. Since it was entirely reasonable for the jury to disbelieve his testimony, his conviction is clearly not a manifest injustice.