Opinion ID: 65055
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Purchase and use of cars

Text: Pellot testified that Zuniga instructed him to purchase a Chevy HHR. He and Compean located a vehicle at a used car lot and took it for a test drive. Zuniga directed them to drive the car to him during the test drive so that he could inspect it. Zuniga then gave Compean $12,000 in cash to buy the vehicle. The car was purchased in Leal’s name because of her good credit. This was the second time Zuniga had directed Compean to purchase a vehicle, and he registered it under Leal’s name.3 Leal also allowed Compean to rent cars using her name on several occasions. Pellot also testified that, after they purchased the HHR, Zuniga drove it to Mexico to have a hidden compartment installed. Pellot testified that none of the vehicles he drove for Zuniga was ever registered 3 On the other occasions that Zuniga instructed Compean to purchase a car, he would provide the specific make, model, year, and color that Compean was to purchase. For each of these cars, Zuniga would inspect them during the test drive. 8 in Zuniga’s own name because “he [did not] want to be involved if we g[o]t caught.” 4 After the HHR was impounded and Compean was arrested, Zuniga arranged a meeting with Leal in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store. At this meeting, Zuniga promised Leal that he would pay off the remaining balance of the HHR, which was still registered in her name. Zuniga did not, however, follow through on this promise. Compean also testified that Zuniga had asked him to register two cars in his own name. Zuniga told Compean that he needed do this so that he would be less conspicuous if he got stopped crossing the border. Ysasi testified that Zuniga gave him money to purchase three cars. He was told to register the cars in his name because it made crossing the border easier as the agents would ask less questions if the driver’s and owner’s name matched.