U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1972

United States v. Mariano Ramirez-Valdez

United States v. Mariano Ramirez-Valdez
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided October 26, 1972 · Barnes, Duniway, Jameson, Per Curiam
468 F.2d 235; 1972 U.S. App. LEXIS 7008 (Federal Reporter, Second Series)

United States v. Mariano Ramirez-Valdez

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Viewing the evidence as we must in the light most favorable to the Government, we hold the trier of fact could have inferred — both that the defendant Ramirez-Valdez had constructive possession of the contraband with his wife, as joint venturers, in view of the circumstantial evidence (United States v. Aranda, 457 F.2d 761, 762 (9th Cir. 1972)), and that the quantity of heroin was of a sufficient size (several thousand dollars in market value) as to indicate it was for the purpose of distribution. This is peculiarly so when there is no testimony that either Ramirez-Valdez or his wife were addicted to heroin.

Affirmed.

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