United States v. Valentino Majak

486 F. App'x 664

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Valentino Bol Majak appeals his convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(l)(B)(vii), and fleeing from an immigration checkpoint, 18 U.S.C. § 758. He argues that the district court erred in admitting expert testimony to show that he knowingly possessed the marijuana.

Majak was apprehended after fleeing from a Border Patrol checkpoint at high speed; approximately 400 pounds of marijuana was found in the trunk of his car. Majak testified that he did not know how the marijuana got there and suggested that Border Patrol agents must have placed it there after his arrest. An expert in drug trafficking testified for the Government that drug traffickers do not typically use unknowing couriers to transport drugs.

We review a district court’s decision admitting drug-courier expert testimony for abuse of discretion. United States v. Sepulveda-Barraza, 645 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir.2011). The district court did not abuse its discretion in this case. Expert drug-courier testimony “is admissible when rele vant, probative of a defendant’s knowledge, and not unfairly prejudicial.” Id. at 1072. The testimony here was relevant because Majak disavowed knowledge as to how the marijuana got into his trunk. Ma-jak’s suggestion that the Border Patrol agents may have placed the marijuana there did not render the expert testimony irrelevant. See United States v. Cordoba, 104 F.3d 225, 229 (9th Cir.1997) (noting that expert testimony about unknowing couriers is generally probative of the defendant’s knowledge of possession) (citing United States v. Castro, 972 F.2d 1107, 1111 (9th Cir.1992)).

AFFIRMED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.