Opinion ID: 775590
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Crime was Already Completed

Text: 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