Two Conspiracy Convictions From One Smuggling Operation Upheld

The double jeopardy right of the U.S. gatekeeper for a Mexican drug smuggling operation wasn’t violated when he was convicted twice for conspiring to distribute drugs in violation of the same statute, the Tenth Circuit said Tuesday.

Edgar Mier-Garces was responsible for receiving drugs from Mexico, loading them into cars that were picked up by couriers, retrieving the cars after the drugs were sold, and then smuggling the cash into Mexico.

One indictment against Mier-Garces involved a spoke of the operation that reached into Colorado, and the other case involved a spoke that originated in Texas but was destined for ...