United States v. Ruiz
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
59 F.3d 1151 (1995)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Ana Ruiz (defendant) arranged a meeting at which Angel Santana purchased cocaine from an undercover law enforcement agent. The United States (plaintiff) charged Ruiz with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Ruiz testified that based on what Santana had told her, Ruiz believed that Santana was a government informant and that Ruiz’s actions were thus helping law enforcement. Ruiz requested a jury instruction on mistake of fact to provide further clarity to the willful element of the crime charged. The district court denied the request, finding that Ruiz’s theory was not actually a defense and was not justified. The jury convicted Ruiz, and she appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Dyer, J.)
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