Opinion ID: 382978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Encounter in The Yucatan Straits

Text: 3 On the morning of May 14, 1979 the Coast Guard cutter Point Lobos was on patrol near the Straits of Yucatan some 250 miles from the United States. It observed an unidentified vessel on its radar approximately nine miles away. Upon closer investigation the vessel was identified as a large shrimp boat with the name Cowboy and the home port of Mobile painted on her stern. 4 When first sighted, the Cowboy was on a heading of 290 to 300 degrees, or northwest, at nine knots per hour. As the Point Lobos closed to within three miles, the Cowboy changed course to a heading of 340 degrees, or north-northwest. At a distance of approximately twenty-five yards the Point Lobos requested over its loudspeaker that the Cowboy stop for a boarding. 5 Petty Officer Helms led a three man boarding party onto the Cowboy. The appellant identified himself as the captain. Mr. Helms told him that he was checking the Cowboy for compliance with United States laws. Record, Vol. IV, at B-12-13. 6 In response to Mr. Helms request DeWeese produced documentation papers which identified the Cowboy as an American flagship. No permits were produced which would allow the Cowboy to shrimp in foreign waters. An inspection of the vessel revealed one minor safety violation and the absence of a required oil pollution placard. 7 During the inspection both Mr. Helms and Coast Guardsman Gayle observed that the vessel was extremely clean. The rigging for the shrimp nets appeared unused. In addition, the metal strips on the boards used for dragging the nets on the ocean floor were rusty. This suggested the boards had not been used recently as the metal strips would have been shiny from contact with the ocean floor. 8 After inspecting the Cowboy's engine room, Mr. Helms asked DeWeese if he could look in the vessel's ice hold where the catch is generally stored. DeWeese responded, Sure, but you're not going to like what you find. (Record, Vol. IV, at B-17). DeWeese and another crewmember proceeded to lift the hatch to the ice hold. A large number of marijuana bales could be seen from the deck. DeWeese and his four crewmembers were placed under arrest. Five-hundred and three bales of marijuana weighing over 41,000 pounds with a value of approximately $8,000,000 were seized. 9 DeWeese and the four crewmembers were indicted for conspiracy with each other and others unknown for a twofold purpose: importation and possession with intent to distribute. The trial of the crewmembers was severed. The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute was struck from the indictment. DeWeese was convicted by a jury on the charge of conspiracy to import. He appeals.