Opinion ID: 746790
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lopez's Testimony

Text: 11 Lopez testified at trial that, before his arrest on May 25, 1995, he worked as a forklift operator for $10 per hour. He had never been arrested or convicted of any offense. He was 26 years old. In late 1993 or early 1994, Lopez was introduced to an auto salesman, Tony Sagoo, who took Lopez to an auto auction. Later that day, Lopez gave Sagoo $5,000 to purchase a minivan they had seen. Lopez borrowed much of this money from family members. 12 Sagoo was unable to purchase the minivan, but he failed to return the $5,000 over the next several months. Sagoo introduced Lopez to Storm and told Lopez that Storm would re-pay the debt. Lopez was shocked by Storm's suggestion that they engage in a narcotics transaction as a way to repay the debt. Initially, Lopez refused Storm's suggestions. Eventually, however, Lopez felt pressured and realized that the only way he would get his $5,000 was to complete the drug deal. He therefore agreed to sell cocaine to Storm. 13 According to Lopez, when Storm asked Lopez for a sample of cocaine, Lopez contacted a friend named Manny, whom he had met five to six years before in a bar. Lopez got the cocaine from Manny and gave Storm a sample. 14 Storm continued to pressure Lopez to conduct the transaction, and Lopez acted as a middleman between Storm and Manny. According to Lopez, Manny arranged all the details of the transaction, including the meeting place, the use of two cars, the secret panels, and the price of the ten kilograms.