Opinion ID: 58465
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Hostage Taking Act

Text: Calderon, Martinez, and Rivas were each charged with conspiracy to commit a hostage taking and aiding and abetting a hostage taking. See 18 U.S.C. § 1203(a). To prove the offense of hostage taking, the Government must establish that the defendants “(1) seized or detained another person, and (2) threatened to kill, injure, or continue to detain that person, (3) with the purpose of compelling a third person or entity to act in some way as an ‘explicit or implicit condition for the release of the person detained.’” Ibarra-Zelaya, 465 F.3d at 602 (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 1203(a)). “Conspiracy requires direct or indirect agreement to commit hostage taking, knowledge that the purpose of the agreement was unlawful, and joinder in the agreement to further its unlawful purpose.” Id. at 603 (quoting United States v. De Jesus-Batres, 410 F.3d 154, 160 (5th Cir. 2005). To prove the crime of aiding and abetting, the Government must establish that the substantive offense occurred and that the defendant (1) associated with the criminal venture; (2) purposefully participated in the crime; and (3) sought by his actions for it to succeed. United States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 596 (5th Cir. 2001). “Associate” means that the defendant shares in the principal’s criminal intent. Jaramillo, 42 F.3d at 923. “Participate” means that 9 No. 05-20706 the defendant engages in some affirmative conduct designed to aid the venture or assist the perpetrator of the crime. Id. “The evidence supporting a conspiracy conviction is generally sufficient to support an aiding and abetting conviction as well.” Ibarra-Zelaya, 465 F.3d at 603 (quoting United States v. Gonzales, 121 F.3d 928, 936 (5th Cir. 1997)). With respect to Calderon, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, tends to show that he owned and managed the shop where the aliens were held hostage. Hernandez specifically testified that Calderon drove him to the shop, that Calderon and Gaona appeared to be in charge, and that Calderon handled money, held a weapon, and threatened to shoot the aliens if they tried to escape. Hernandez also testified that he took orders from Calderon and that Calderon instructed him to threaten the aliens if they became unruly or boisterous. Vaquedano testified that Calderon took turns holding a weapon. With respect to Martinez and Rivas, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, tends to show that they each wrote down the names and numbers of the aliens and made calls to secure the additional smuggling fees. Latent fingerprints found on the pollo lists belonged to them. Several witnesses testified that they carried weapons. Vaquedano testified that Martinez made threats and Hernandez-Contreras testified that Rivas specifically threatened to shoot anyone who tried to escape. Finally, Monrroy testified that both Martinez and Rivas were each present when threats to kill were made. Based on this evidence, a reasonable jury could have concluded that Calderon, Martinez, and Rivas each conspired to commit a hostage taking and aided and abetted a hostage taking.5 5 Although Rivas argues that there was insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction as to all counts, he focuses exclusively on the counts involving conspiracy to commit a hostage taking and aiding and abetting a hostage taking. Thus, with respect to the remaining counts, we deem his insufficiency of the evidence challenge waived for inadequate briefing. See United States v. Freeman, 434 F.3d 369, 374 (5th Cir. 2005). 10 No. 05-20706 Calderon, Martinez, and Rivas argue that there is no evidence that any alien was detained or that the smuggling fee increased once the aliens crossed the border. According to them, the aliens voluntarily remained at the shop until the initial smuggling fee was paid. However, Hernandez, Contreras, Monrroy, Vaquedano, and Hernandez-Contreras testified that they were each held captive at the shop and that the smugglers threatened to harm them if they tried to escape. Although the evidence regarding the beating of Contreras was conflicting, the jury could have concluded that Gaona and Victoria beat Contreras simply because he was unable to pay the additional smuggling fee. Moreover, Hernandez, Monrroy, Vaquedano, and Hernandez-Contreras testified that the smuggling fee increased once they arrived in Houston. Based on this evidence, a reasonable jury could have concluded that the aliens were actually detained and that a hostage taking occurred. Finally, Rivas argues that there is no evidence of an intent to compel a third person to act in some way as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the aliens. However, there is ample evidence in the record that the defendants called various friends and family members of the illegal aliens and requested money as an implicit condition for their release. Again, the sole inquiry is not whether the jury’s verdict was ultimately correct but whether the jury made a reasonable decision based upon the evidence introduced at trial. Jaramillo, 42 F.3d at 923. 2. The Transportation and Harboring of Illegal Aliens Calderon was charged with aiding and abetting the transportation and harboring of illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii). To prove the offense of transporting an illegal alien the Government must establish that “(1) an alien entered or remained in the United States in violation of the law, (2) [the defendant] transported the alien within the United States with intent to further the alien’s unlawful presence, and (3) [the defendant] knew or recklessly 11 No. 05-20706 disregarded the fact that the alien was in the country in violation of the law.” United States v. Nolasco-Rosas, 286 F.3d 762, 765 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and United States v. Diaz, 936 F.2d 786, 788 (5th Cir. 1991)). To prove the offense of harboring an illegal alien the Government must establish that “(1) [an] alien entered or remained in the United States in violation of the law, (2) the defendant concealed, harbored or sheltered the alien in the United States, (3) the defendant knew or recklessly disregarded that the alien entered or remained in the United States in violation of the law, and (4) the defendant’s conduct tended to substantially facilitate the alien remaining in the United States illegally.” De Jesus-Batres, 410 F.3d at 160; see also 18 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii). Circumstantial evidence alone can establish a defendant’s knowledge or reckless disregard that the people being transported and/or harbored are in the United States illegally . See id. at 161 (citing United States v. Rubio-Gonzalez, 674 F.2d 1067, 1071 (5th Cir. 1982)). Here, there is no dispute that illegal aliens had entered the United States, were transported and harbored in the United States, and that Calderon knew or recklessly disregarded that the transported and harbored aliens entered or remained in the United States in violation of the law. Instead, Calderon argues that there is no evidence that he specifically transported or harbored an illegal alien. However, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, tends to show that Calderon owned and managed the shop where the aliens were held hostage. Hernandez specifically testified that Calderon drove him to the shop, that Calderon and Gaona appeared to be in charge, and that Calderon handled money, held a weapon, and threatened to shoot the aliens if they tried to escape. Hernandez further testified that he took orders from Calderon and that Calderon instructed him to threaten the aliens if they became unruly or boisterous. Vaquedano testified that Calderon took turns holding a weapon. Based on this evidence, a reasonable jury could have concluded that Calderon 12 No. 05-20706 aided and abetted the harboring of illegal aliens. Although there is no evidence that Calderon specifically transported Contreras, Monrroy, Vaquedano, and Hernandez-Contreras, a reasonable jury could have concluded that by managing the place to which the aliens were transported, substantially participating in the overall hostage taking conspiracy, and, according to Hernandez, being in charge of the operation with Gaona, Calderon aided and abetted the transportation of illegal aliens to the shop. We understand that most of this evidence comes from the testimony of an indicted co-defendant. However, when evaluating whether the evidence is sufficient to support a jury verdict, we are required to view all of the evidence -- including the testimony of a potentially biased witness -- in a light most favorable to that verdict. See Ramirez, 954 F.2d at 1039.