Case library · Square Grouper
Adrift Under a Rag Sail
United States v. Ricardo (1980)
Charge: Conspiracy to import marijuanaCourt: U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th CircuitState: TexasDocket: Square Grouper
Can a court try a foreign crew for a smuggling agreement when nothing was ever done inside the country?
The facts
A shrimp boat was found powerless about 125 miles off the Texas coast, drifting north under a sail rigged from scraps. Officers saw tobacco-like sweepings trailing astern and charts going over the side. The recovered charts traced a course from Colombia to a meeting point sixty miles off the coast. Nobody had registry papers. Two of the seven aboard claimed shipwreck but could not name their own lost boat.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. Ricardo, 619 F.2d 1124 (5th Cir. 1980)
Read more at law.justia.com. The source reveals the outcome.