Opinion ID: 168645
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Two Counts of Transporting Illegal Aliens

Text: 25 To support the two counts against Condrin regarding transportation of illegal aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii), the government relied upon an aiding and abetting theory, which required proof Condrin willfully associated with a criminal venture and sought through some affirmative action to make that venture succeed. United States v. Barajas-Diaz, 313 F.3d 1242, 1249 (10th Cir.2002). The criminal venture of transporting illegal aliens rests upon proof by the government of: 26 (1) the transporting or moving of an alien within the United States, (2) that the alien was present in violation of law, (3) that the defendant was aware of the alien's status, and (4) that the defendant acted willfully in furtherance of the alien's violation of the law. 27 United States v. Barajas-Chavez, 162 F.3d 1285, 1287 (10th Cir.1999). 28 Condrin argues the evidence shows neither (1) that he was aware of the aliens' status, nor (2) that he acted willfully in violation of the law to help make the criminal venture succeed. He contends he was merely present during the minivan driver's commission of the crime and mere presence is insufficient to prove aiding and abetting. United States v. Taylor, 612 F.2d 1272, 1275 (10th Cir.1980). We disagree. 29 The facts presented at trial support the jury's verdict. As an initial matter, Condrin concedes he was present at the scene of the arrest. And he also concedes the government presented testimony showing he entered the El Paso, Texas apartment to notify the aliens of their imminent departure. The testimony suggests Condrin instructed the aliens how to respond if they were stopped by the Border Patrol, a fact consistent with his knowledge of the aliens' status and the illegal transportation scheme. Finally, his explanation to the Border Patrol officers about the purpose of his trip was inconsistent with his wife's testimony. 30 Condrin argues this accumulation of evidence is insufficient to infer knowledge the aliens were illegally in the United States or that he took steps to help transport them in violation of the law. The jury disagreed with this view, and we defer to them. The evidence offered by the prosecution provided ample support for the jury's conclusion that Condrin was aiding and abetting a criminal venture to transport aliens within the United States. 3