’WPCŒ „™ŠĆeqo±£­@°‘õš€¾Ž^p ‘čK”0sÉ7+±u·#PDō]$†e$¬V!’"õбndƒŌ:ZÖǾLbü­ūٰ“Z5hz®¬išZÉ[ł„²šŁÄiüļ$°Šó„Įųˆf4čp$Ī š†ņ„üÓ?ž²yŗW3ØŸ‚%¾e¬8W*Ą Vp¾aż‡~j‰ĶÄź1™UPČL•Nї`ó¾’OH²Gžs0J#°‰ ŸXjó ©²MvōO6Āҧ;ÕOÖaF.ĮÜ÷¤]ކ·rnśc§vÕŹ¼ČćĀ=c—·ū|ī6hžŻę65!²ŅZt¬üRbŃ8‰ģō®™«œ°w\§č’Ąq•žrQÉņ{&Łp ·÷ĆÆś 2ƒ•ØœŖļ>TTĆ}'8Ą¢W¤”£sī(Rׂ3C7ĪŹæĶü8]©0]ø»c0ˆÄœ|CūæĻŌ«š®<@|čĪ#Ņ*cG;6ēlēČ~ne‡2q9Ōwį{K“–ײÉszĄš bøI;s æŠQĘ®0]öæĖąZoÄMĒd”õ¾ˆAŅž2éś'$‡Nų¾”Y‡˜"Ŗ1~BAH;$ŽR£tņK- Ęyõ•X#ÉŠUN™ %ē 0:ķ ^ ' w3 47 K Z m\ U8s t« 0V (u 0Š 0D' wk NāU@äī$U8bNNbVU8øŠššU8ĄĒųU8æĶ÷U8ÄUFü-BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Bo˜HP LaserJet 2100 PCL6,,,,,,,,0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōܔ[5Z µ‰55ź:i¢Ų+003|x’U‹’’’’<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New  JACINTACRASTOUNTorruellaValldejuliMariannaBauza SosapalletizedSanturceROMNEYAnguila hydrocholorideHenriquezas asCostcoT]heyfactfinder(.3½Ž$©©Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż(:(2x«$¤¤Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó mŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś6Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€ X¶XXXŌThis€evidence€includes€Smallsššs€use€of€her€cell€phone€number,Š ° Šher€presence€with€Smalls€when€the€CI€made€the€calls€earlier€thatŠ xČ Šday,€her€arrival€as€the€courier€promised€by€Smalls,€the€documentedŠ @ Šcalls€from€the€CI€to€her€cell€phone,€both€before€and€after€sheŠ X Šarrived€at€Pier€10,€her€unusual€conduct€on€the€Pier,€and€her€oddŠ Š  Šinsistence€that€the€box€be€delivered€to€her€vehicle.(@ųŠ Z(Times New Roman  äŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś*Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ‡ X¶XXXŌOf€the€District€of€Maine,€sitting€by€designation.Ō#†Xń@XX X¶q#Ō śŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€X¶XXXŌThe€parties€refer€either€to€Mr.€Small€or€Mr.€Smalls;€thisŠ ° Šopinion€uses€š šSmalls.šš<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New - ł- XŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€X¶XXXŌThe€Agents€disagreed€about€precisely€when€she€arrived:€oneŠ ° Šsaid€between€7:00€and€7:15€a.m.;€another€said€between€8:00€and€9:00Š xČ Ša.m.;€and,€a€third€said€8:20€a.m.<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New  ĘŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€X¶XXXŌThe€parties€stipulated€to€these€drug€amounts€at€trial.<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New  ½Ż ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś4Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€X¶XXXŌThomas€operates€a€beauty€salon€from€her€home.<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New  ĆŻ ƒx«$ŻŌUSUS.,ŌÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś5Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€!X¶XXXŌHere,€the€trial€judge€properly€instructed€the€jury€thatŠ ° ŠThomasššs€š šwillful€blindnessšš€could€satisfy€the€knowledge€element.€Š xČ ŠTo€infer€knowledge,€the€jury€had€to€find€first€that€the€defendantŠ @ Šš šwas€aware€of€a€high€probability€of€ššthe€fact€in€question,šš€whichŠ X Šin€this€case€would€be€that€there€were€controlled€substances€insideŠ Š  Šthe€box€that€was€marked€ššPink€Ladyšš€...€and€second,€that€theŠ ˜č Šdefendant€consciously€and€deliberately€avoided€learning€of€theŠ ` ° Šfact.€€That€is€to€say,€that€defendant€willfully€made€herself€blindŠ ( x Što€the€fact.šš€€ņņSeeóó€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņGabrieleóó,€63€F.3d€61,€66€n.6Š š @ Š(1st€Cir.€1995).<4šŪ 9Z+ Courier New .Courier New Regular #Ń#€"u"X’’d#Ń dŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŃ€ŃŃ8€ń@XXdČdČ8ŃŌ€°#$°XXŌŌ€°łF°°°#$ŌÓ  Óņ ņŃ  ŃŃ€#NŃUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsŠ ° ŠŌ‡„ZÆ„°°łFŌFor€the€First€CircuitŌ#†°łF°„„ZÆ"#ŌŠ @ Šó ó____________ņ ņŠ l¼ ŠĢŌ€ °ś¦°°°łFŌó óŌ€ X¶X° °ś¦ŌÓ  ÓNo.€04„2386Š Œ Ü ŠĢÓ  ÓUNITED€STATES€OF€AMERICA,Š  l ŠĢAppellee,Š ¬ ü ŠĢv.Š <Œ  ŠĢJACINTA€A.€THOMAS,€a/k/a€JACINTA€A.€CRASTOUN,Š Ģ  ŠĢDefendant,€Appellant.Š \¬  ŠĢ__________________Š ģ< ŠĢAPPEAL€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTŠ |Ģ ŠĢFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€PUERTO€RICOŠ  \ ŠĢ[Hon.€Jay€A.€Ō_ŌGarcaŌ_Ō„Gregory,€ņņU.S.€District€Judgeóó]Š œģ ŠĢ___________________Š ,| ŠĢBeforeŠ ¼  ŠĢTorruella€and€Lynch,€ņņCircuit€Judgesóó,Š Lœ Šand€Woodcock,Ł*ƒüœ!Ł×ƒׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś*Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀ņņDistrict€Judgeóó.Š d ŠĢ___________________Š ¤ō ŠĢÓ  Óą  ąņņIrma€R.€Valldejulióó€for€appellant.Š 4!„! Šą  ąņņMariana€E.€Ō_ŌBauzŌ_Ō„Almonteóó,€Assistant€United€States€Attorney,Š ü!L" Šwith€whom€ņņRosa€Emilia€Ō_ŌRodrquezŌ_Ō„Ō_ŌVlezŌ_Ōóó,€United€States€Attorney,€andŠ Ä"# ŠņņNelson€Ō_ŌPrezŌ_Ō„Sosaóó,€Assistant€United€States€Attorney,€Chief,Š Œ#Ü$ ŠAppellate€Division,€were€on€brief,€for€appellee.Š T$¤% ŠĢÓ  Ó___________________Š ä%4!' ŠĢOctober€27,€2006Š t'Ä") Š___________________Š <(Œ#* ŠĢ‚‚‚‚‚‚ĢĢŠ \+¬&. ŠŃ#NŃā #āŃ8€"§L"X XdČXXdČ8Ńā #āŃ  ŃÓ  ÓÓÓÓ=€ń@XŠXdŠd=Óą  ąņ ņą ` ąŁ*üœ!ŁŲŲWOODCOCK,€ņņDistrict€Judgeó óóó.€€In€2003,€following€a€five„dayŠ ° Šjury€trial€in€the€United€States€District€Court€in€Puerto€Rico,Š @ ŠJacinta€Thomas€was€found€guilty€of€smuggling€and€possession€ofŠ Š  Šillegal€drugs.€€Concluding€that€the€evidence€is€sufficient€toŠ ` ° Šsustain€the€verdicts€and€that€the€trial€court€properly€refused€toŠ š @ Šallow€extrinsic€evidence€on€a€collateral€matter,€we€affirm.Š € Š  Šņ ņą  ąI.€€Statement€of€FactsŠ `  Šą  ąą ` ąA.€€Mr.€Smalls€and€the€Box€of€Pink€Ladyó óŠ  š  Šą  ąą ` ąOn€July€6,€2002,€a€confidential€informant€(CI)€contactedŠ 0€  Šthe€San€Juan,€Puerto€Rico€office€of€the€United€States€CustomsŠ Ą ŠService€(Customs)€concerning€a€shipment€of€narcotics€beingŠ P  Štransported€from€St.€Martin,€Netherlands,€Antilles€into€San€Juan.€Š ą0 ŠThe€CI,€a€crew€member€from€a€Caribbean€cargo€vessel,€had€been€aŠ pĄ Špaid€informant€since€1998€and€had€previously€provided€Customs€withŠ P Šinformation€concerning€narcotics€smuggling.€€He€reported€that€a€boxŠ ą Šof€wine€containing€narcotics€was€going€to€be€entrusted€to€him€toŠ  p Štransport€from€St.€Martin€to€Pier€10€in€the€port€of€San€Juan.€Š °  ŠLater€that€day€in€St.€Martin,€a€man€by€the€name€of€Mr.€Smalls׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׊ @" Šapproached€the€CI.€€Smalls€confirmed€that€he€wanted€the€CI€toŠ Š $ Štransport€a€box€of€wine€to€San€Juan,€told€the€CI€that€one€of€hisŠ `"°& Šworkers€would€deliver€the€wine€to€him,€and€slipped€the€CI€twoŠ š#@( Štelephone€numbers€to€contact€upon€his€arrival€in€San€Juan.€€Later,Š €%Š * Ša€worker€brought€the€CI€a€sealed€white€carton€box€indicating€thatŠ '`", Šit€contained€wine€and€marked€š šPink€Lady,šš€which€the€CI€stowedŠ  (š#. Šsecurely€in€his€cabin.€€After€leaving€St.€Martin,€the€vessel€setŠ ° Šsail€for€the€port€of€San€Juan.€€Awaiting€his€arrival€at€Pier€10€wasŠ @ Ša€surveillance€team€from€Customs.Š Š  Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąB.€€The€Vessel€Arrives€at€Pier€10ó óŠ ` ° Šą  ąą ` ąOn€July€9,€2002€at€about€7:00€a.m.,€the€cargo€vesselŠ š @ Šarrived€at€Pier€10€in€San€Juan€harbor.€€After€the€CI€contactedŠ € Š  ŠCustoms,€agents€boarded€the€vessel,€debriefed€the€CI,€and€openedŠ `  Šthe€box€labeled€Pink€Lady.€€Inside€the€box,€the€agents€observedŠ  š  Špelletized€objects€in€brick„shaped€packages€and€other€objectsŠ 0€  Šshaped€like€shoe€soles€inside€bags.€€They€resealed€the€box€andŠ Ą Šinstructed€the€CI€to€call€the€numbers€Smalls€had€given€him.Š P  Šą  ąą ` ąWhen€the€CI€called€the€first€number,€a€woman€answered€theŠ ą0 Šphone.€€After€the€CI€asked€for€Smalls,€she€asked€him€to€call€backŠ pĄ Šin€five€minutes.€€When€he€did€so,€he€spoke€directly€to€Smalls,€whoŠ P Šsaid€he€would€send€a€woman€who€was€well€known€in€the€pier€area€toŠ ą Špick€up€the€box.€€The€CI€called€a€third€time€and€spoke€to€a€womanŠ  p Šwho€confirmed€that€she€was€going€to€come€to€the€port€to€pick€up€theŠ °  Šbox.€€The€telephone€number€the€CI€had€called€was€listed€to€theŠ @" ŠAppellant.Š Š $ Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąC.€€Jacinta€Thomas€and€Pier€10ó óŠ `"°& Šą  ąņņóóą ` ąThe€morning€of€July€9,€2002,€Thomas,€a€resident€ofŠ š#@( ŠSanturce,€Puerto€Rico,€got€in€her€Ford€Taurus€and€drove€to€Pier€10.€Š €%Š * ŠShe€arrived€sometime€between€7:00€a.m.€and€9:00€a.m.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀andŠ '`", Šimmediately€came€under€Customs€surveillance.€€After€Thomas€enteredŠ  (š#. Šthe€dock€area,€she€parked€her€car€and€got€out.€€After€exiting€herŠ ° Švehicle,€she€answered€her€cell€phone€and€then€looked€toward€theŠ @ Šcargo€vessel.€€Customs€agents€observed€her€frequently€lookingŠ Š  Štoward€the€freight€and€cargo€area,€as€if€searching€for€someoneŠ ` ° Šspecific.€€Unlike€others€with€business€in€the€port,€she€did€notŠ š @ Šenter€any€offices,€was€not€carrying€any€documents,€and€repeatedlyŠ € Š  Šused€her€cell€phone.€€She€then€reentered€her€vehicle€and€left€theŠ `  Šdock€area€for€ten€to€fifteen€minutes.Š  š  Šą  ąą ` ąUpon€her€return,€she€parked€again,€got€out€of€her€car,Š 0€  Šand€sat€in€a€chair,€chatting€with€people€passing€by.€€This€time€sheŠ Ą Šremained€on€the€dock€for€several€hours.€€While€she€was€there,€theŠ P  ŠCI€placed€four€calls€to€her€cell€phone€to€establish€contact€and€toŠ ą0 Šcoordinate€delivery€of€the€box.€€These€calls€took€place€at€10:30,Š pĄ Š10:50,€11:10,€and€11:26€a.m.€and€as€these€calls€were€made,Š P Šsurveillance€confirmed€that€Thomas€was€using€her€cell€phone.€€ItŠ ą Štook€hours€to€coordinate€the€delivery€of€the€box€to€Thomas,€becauseŠ  p ŠThomas€did€not€want€to€pick€up€the€box€at€the€end€of€the€pier,€butŠ °  Šinstead€wanted€the€box€delivered€to€her€car.€€Ultimately,€the€CIŠ @" Šarranged€to€have€one€of€his€employees€take€the€box€on€a€forklift€toŠ Š $ ŠThomasššs€car.€€When€the€forklift€operator€arrived€at€her€car,Š `"°& ŠThomas€got€up€from€her€chair,€pointed€to€the€side€of€the€car,Š š#@( Šwalked€in€front€of€the€forklift€operator,€and€opened€the€door€toŠ €%Š * Šthe€driverššs€seat.€€The€forklift€operator€placed€the€box€in€theŠ '`", Šrear€seat€behind€the€driver.Š  (š#. Šą  ąą ` ąAfter€the€box€was€placed€in€her€vehicle,€Thomas€stayedŠ 0*€%0 Šnear€her€car€momentarily€and€then€walked€toward€the€LADY€ROMNEY,Š Ą+'2 Šanother€cargo€vessel.€€Thomas€returned€to€her€car€accompanied€byŠ ° Šanother€woman,€who€was€wearing€a€type€of€hair€net€commonly€worn€byŠ @ Šcooks.€€This€woman€joined€Thomas€approximately€thirty€secondsŠ Š  Šbefore€Thomas€began€to€drive€out€of€Pier€10.€€As€Thomas€was€drivingŠ ` ° Šout€of€Pier€10,€Customs€agents€stopped€her.€€After€identifyingŠ š @ Šhimself,€Agent€Ritchie€Flores€asked€Thomas€whether€she€had€anyŠ € Š  Šcargo€or€foreign€property€in€her€vehicle.€€Thomas€replied€that€sheŠ `  Šhad€a€box€in€the€rear€seat€that€had€come€from€Anguila.€€Flores€wasŠ  š  Šaware,€however,€that€the€wine€box€had€originated€in€St.€Martin€andŠ 0€  Šhad€not€traveled€to€Anguila.€€Flores€asked€if€he€could€search€bothŠ Ą Šthe€box€and€Thomas;€she€consented.€€Inside€the€wine€box,€FloresŠ P  Šdiscovered€brick„shaped€packages€wrapped€in€newspaper€and€coveredŠ ą0 Šin€grease€and€inside€these€packages€were€bricks€of€heroin€andŠ pĄ Šcocaine€base,€containing€3.96€kilograms€of€heroin€hydrocholorideŠ P Šand€4.922€kilograms€of€cocaine€base.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€There€was€no€wine€in€theŠ ą Šbox.Š  p Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąD.€€Customs€Procedureó óŠ °  Šą  ąą ` ąUnder€Customs€regulations,€all€incoming€foreign€cargoŠ @" Šmust€be€manifested€and€declared,€including€merchandise€brought€byŠ Š $ Šcrew€members.€€To€exit€the€port€with€foreign€merchandise,€theŠ `"°& Šrecipient€must€proceed€to€Customs€with€the€required€forms€andŠ š#@( Šreceive€clearance.€€Thomas€did€not€have€any€paperwork€to€accompanyŠ €%Š * Šthe€box€of€wine.Š '`", Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąE.€€Narcotics€Smugglingó óŠ  (š#. Šą  ąą ` ąThe€value€of€one€kilogram€of€heroin€was€$90,000€wholesaleŠ 0*€%0 Šand€$270,000€retail,€and€the€value€of€one€kilogram€of€cocaine€baseŠ ° Šwas€$17,500€wholesale€and€$52,000€retail.€€The€range€of€value€forŠ @ Šthe€entire€shipment,€therefore,€was€between€$442,535€wholesale€andŠ Š  Š$1,325,144€retail.€€At€trial,€a€DEA€task€force€member€expressed€theŠ ` ° Šview€that,€because€of€the€value€of€the€shipment,€the€owner€of€theŠ š @ Šdrugs€would€only€assign€the€job€of€picking€up€the€drugs€to€a€highlyŠ € Š  Štrusted€member€of€the€drug€organization.€€He€also€testified€that€aŠ `  Šdrug€organization€would€never€use€a€person€who€was€unaware€of€whatŠ  š  Šwas€being€transported.Š 0€  Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąF.€€Jacinta€Thomasššs€Defenseó óŠ Ą Šą  ąą ` ąThomasššs€defense€was,€in€short,€that€the€cook€did€it.€Š P  ŠThomas€took€the€stand€during€her€trial€and€testified€that€everyŠ ą0 ŠTuesday€she€had€gone€to€Pier€10€to€meet€the€LADY€ROMNEY€and€to€pickŠ pĄ Šup€its€cook,€Claudette€Henriquez.€€In€exchange€for€$100.00,€ThomasŠ P Šwould€then€take€Henriquez€in€her€car€to€various€wholesaleŠ ą Šbusinesses€in€San€Juan,€such€as€Costco€and€Samššs,€where€HenriquezŠ  p Šwould€purchase€food€and€other€supplies€for€the€vessel.Š °  Šą  ąą ` ąThomas€testified€that€she€had€arrived,€as€usual,€at€PierŠ @" Š10€the€morning€of€Tuesday,€July€9,€2002,€to€pick€up€Henriquez.€Š Š $ ŠWhen€she€arrived,€however,€Jack,€the€captain€of€the€LADY€ROMNEY,Š `"°& Šasked€her€to€take€his€girlfriend€to€the€beauty€parlor,€which€ThomasŠ š#@( Šdid,€returning€shortly€thereafter€to€pick€up€Henriquez.€€AfterŠ €%Š * ŠThomas€returned€to€Pier€10,€Henriquez€asked€if€she€could€borrowŠ '`", ŠThomasššs€cell€phone€and€disappeared€inside€the€LADY€ROMNEY.€€ThomasŠ  (š#. Šwaited€for€Henriquez€to€reappear€and€ultimately€went€inside€theŠ 0*€%0 Švessel€to€find€Henriquez,€who€told€her€that€she€had€to€finishŠ Ą+'2 Šcooking€for€the€crew€that€day€and€would€then€be€ready€to€leave.€Š ° ŠHenriquez€also€told€Thomas€that€she€had€a€box€of€liquor€to€takeŠ @ Šout.€€Thomas€replied€that€this€would€be€no€problem.€€ThomasŠ Š  Šreturned€to€the€dock,€where€she€continued€to€wait€for€Henriquez.€Š ` ° ŠAs€Thomas€waited,€she€placed€a€number€of€calls€on€her€cell€phone,Š š @ Šincluding€to€her€daughter€and€her€own€clients.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś4Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׊ € Š  Šą  ąą ` ąThomas€agreed€that€while€she€was€waiting€for€Henriquez,Š `  Šshe€received€a€telephone€call€from€someone,€informing€her€thatŠ  š  ŠHenriquez€had€asked€him€to€call€her€about€the€box€of€wine€and€thatŠ 0€  Šhe€needed€her€permission€to€deliver€the€box,€since€it€was€her€car.€Š Ą ŠThomas€agreed,€knowing€that€Henriquez€had€informed€her€about€theŠ P  Šwine.€€This€same€person€called€a€second€time€and€told€her€to€comeŠ ą0 Špick€up€the€box;€Thomas€refused€and€instead€told€him€to€bring€theŠ pĄ Šwine€to€her€vehicle.€€This€took€some€time€and€Thomas€went€backŠ P Šinside€the€LADY€ROMNEY€to€hurry€Henriquez€along.€€When€she€cameŠ ą Šout,€a€person€had€arrived€at€her€vehicle€with€a€forklift€and€theŠ  p Šwine.€€Thomas€told€him€where€to€place€the€box.€€Henriquez€emergedŠ °  Šfrom€the€LADY€ROMNEY,€got€into€Thomasššs€car,€and€they€both€leftŠ @" ŠPier€10.Š Š $ Šą  ąą ` ąAs€they€were€leaving,€they€were€stopped€by€CustomsŠ `"°& ŠAgents.€€Thomas€immediately€conceded€that€they€had€brought€a€box€ofŠ š#@( Šwine€from€the€docks€and€when€she€was€asked€for€papers€for€itŠ €%Š * Šreplied:€€š š[T]hey€just€bring€me€the€box€but€they€didnššt€give€me€...Š '`", Šany€paper€or€anything.šš€€She€consented€to€a€search€of€the€box.Š  (š#. Šą  ąą ` ąAt€the€police€station,€after€the€Agents€detained€bothŠ 0*€%0 ŠHenriquez€and€Thomas,€Thomas€informed€them€that€she€was€unaware€ofŠ ° Šthe€contents€of€the€box,€but€thought€it€had€come€from€Anguila,Š @ Šbecause€she€knew€that€was€where€Henriquez€was€coming€from.€€At€theŠ Š  Štime€of€her€arrest,€Thomas€had€$83.00€in€her€pocketbook.€€TheŠ ` ° Špolice€released€Henriquez€that€same€day.€€Henriquez€subsequentlyŠ š @ Šresigned€her€cookššs€job,€left€the€Island,€and€disappeared.Š € Š  Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąG.€€The€Progress€of€the€Caseó óŠ `  Šą  ąą ` ąOn€August€7,€2002,€Thomas€was€indicted€for€(1)€theŠ  š  Šknowing€and€intentional€importing€into€the€United€States€of€heroinŠ 0€  Šand€cocaine€base€in€violation€of€21€U.S.C.€ņņšš€óó952(a);€and,€(2)€theŠ Ą Šknowing€and€intentional€possession€of€heroin€and€cocaine€base€withŠ P  Šthe€intent€to€distribute€in€violation€of€21€U.S.C.€šš€841(a)(1).€Š ą0 ŠThe€case€was€tried€before€a€Puerto€Rican€jury€from€July€28,€2003€toŠ pĄ ŠAugust€4,€2003,€and€the€jury€returned€guilty€verdicts€on€bothŠ P Šcounts.€€After€Rule€29€motions€were€denied,€Thomas€filed€a€timelyŠ ą Šappeal€on€September€9,€2004.Š  p Šą  ąņ ņII.€€ą0 ø ąDiscussionа ø (#ø (# Šą  ąą ` ąA.€€Sufficiency€of€the€Evidenceó óŠ @" Šą  ąą ` ąThomasššs€main€challenge€is€directed€to€the€sufficiency€ofŠ Š $ Šthe€evidence€on€an€essential€element€of€the€offense:€whether€sheŠ `"°& Šš šknowingly€and€intentionallyšš€either€possessed€or€imported€illegalŠ š#@( Šnarcotics€into€the€United€States.€€21€U.S.C.€šš€841(a)(1),€952(a).€Š €%Š * ŠShe€strenuously€argues€that€the€sole€evidence€tending€to€establishŠ '`", Šthat€she€had€actual€knowledge€that€illegal€narcotics€were€containedŠ  (š#. Šwithin€the€box€marked€Pink€Lady€is€the€testimony€of€a€DEA€agent€toŠ 0*€%0 Šthe€effect€that€drug€smugglers€do€not€generally€entrust€largeŠ Ą+'2 Šamounts€of€drugs€to€innocents.€€She€contends€that€even€if€theŠ ° Štestimony€of€the€CI€were€credible,€it€is€a€leap€too€far€to€concludeŠ @ Šthat€Smalls,€who€never€testified,€told€her€that€the€box€containedŠ Š  Šillegal€drugs€or€that€she€otherwise€knew€or€should€have€known€thatŠ ` ° Šit€did.€€In€effect,€she€argues€that,€though€the€evidence€couldŠ š @ Šeasily€sustain€a€guilty€verdict€if€charged€with€aiding€and€abettingŠ € Š  Šthe€attempted€smuggling€of€a€few€bottles€of€Pink€Lady€wine,€itŠ `  Šcannot€sustain€a€verdict€for€smuggling€large€quantities€of€heroinŠ  š  Šand€cocaine€base.Š 0€  Šą  ąą ` ąWhile€we€review€Rule€29€determinations€de€novo,€we€willŠ Ą Šaffirm€the€conviction€if,€š šafter€assaying€all€the€evidence€in€theŠ P  Šlight€most€amiable€to€the€government,€and€taking€all€reasonableŠ ą0 Šinferences€in€its€favor,€a€rational€factfinder€could€find,€beyondŠ pĄ Ša€reasonable€doubt,€that€the€prosecution€successfully€proved€theŠ P Šessential€elements€of€the€crime.šš€€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€Ō_ŌņņCaruccióóŌ_Ō,€364Š ą ŠF.3d€339,€343€(1st€Cir.€2004)€(quoting€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€Ō_ŌņņBoulericeŌ_Ōóó,Š  p Š325€F.3d€75,€79€(1st€Cir.€2003)).€€š šAll€ššreasonable€evidentiaryŠ °  Šinferencesšš€are€to€be€drawn€ššin€harmony€with€the€verdict,šš€and€ššallŠ @" Šissues€of€credibilityšš€are€to€be€resolved€ššin€the€light€mostŠ Š $ Šfavorable€to€the€government.šššš€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņWashingtonóó,€434Š `"°& ŠF.3d€7,€15€(1st€Cir.€2006)€(quoting€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņCasasóó,€356Š š#@( ŠF.3d€104,€126€(1st€Cir.€2004)).€€Our€task,€therefore,€is€not€toŠ €%Š * Šmake€an€original€determination€as€to€whether€Thomas€possessed€theŠ '`", Šrequisite€knowledge€but,€rather,€to€determine€whether€a€rationalŠ  (š#. Šjury€could€have€found€that€Thomas€did€so.Š 0*€%0 Šą  ąą ` ąViewed€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€government,€theŠ Ą+'2 Ševidence€against€Thomas€is€substantial.€€First,€the€jury€could€haveŠ ° Šreadily€believed€the€CI,€who€testified€tŌ#ddŌhat€Smalls€had€given€notŠ @ Šhis€own,€but€Thomasššs€telephone€number€to€the€CI,€that€SmallsŠ Š  Šanswered€when€the€CI€called€Thomasššs€number€earlier€that€morning,Š ` ° Šthat€Smalls€said€he€was€sending€someone€to€pick€up€the€box,€thatŠ š @ ŠThomas€was€the€only€person€who€then€appeared,€that€Thomas€was€theŠ € Š  Šperson€answering€the€CIššs€telephone€calls€at€Pier€10,€and€that€sheŠ `  Šdirected€the€CI€to€have€the€box€delivered€to€her€car.€€Indeed,Š  š  ŠThomasššs€own€telephone€records€confirmed€the€calls€from€the€CI€toŠ 0€  Šher€phone,€including€calls€the€CI€had€made€before€she€arrived€atŠ Ą ŠPier€10.Š P  Šą  ąą ` ąSecond,€the€size€of€this€operation,€exceeding€$1,300,000Š ą0 Šin€street€value,€makes€it€less€plausible€that€Thomas€was€whollyŠ pĄ Šignorant€of€the€criminal€operation.€€The€jury€could€have€acceptedŠ P Šthe€DEA€agentššs€testimony€that€smuggling€operations,€like€Smallsššs,Š ą Šinvolving€millions€of€dollars€do€not€take€unnecessary€risks,Š  p Šinstead€opting€for€trusted€and€close€associates,€like€Thomas,€whoŠ °  Šare€aware€of€the€high€stakes.€€Therefore,€the€jury€could€haveŠ @" Šreasonably€concluded€that€Smalls€knew€Thomas€well€enough€to€use€herŠ Š $ Šcell€phone€number€as€a€contact,€was€present€with€her€when€the€CIŠ `"°& Šmade€the€calls,€and€sent€her€to€pick€up€this€valuable€illegalŠ š#@( Šshipment.Š €%Š * Šą  ąą ` ąThird,€Thomas€was€certainly€aware,€at€the€very€least,Š '`", Šthat€she€was€sneaking€something€into€Puerto€Rico.€€The€box€wasŠ  (š#. Šemblazoned€Pink€Lady€on€the€outside,€proclaiming€its€purportedŠ 0*€%0 Šcontents,€and€smugglers€rarely€openly€advertise€the€true€nature€ofŠ Ą+'2 Šthe€smuggled€goods.€Further,€as€opposed€to€the€high€value€ofŠ ° Šnarcotics,€there€is€no€evidence€that€the€value€of€the€box€of€wineŠ @ Šjustified€the€considerable€time€and€energy€she€expended€thatŠ Š  Šmorning.€€Under€the€willful€blindness€instruction,€Thomas€could€š šbeŠ ` ° Šcharged€with€knowledge€of€a€fact€if€she€deliberately€closed€herŠ š @ Šeyes€to€something€that€otherwise€would€have€been€obvious€to€her.šš×ƒ ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś5Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀Š € Š  ŠņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņŌ_ŌChealŌ_Ōóó,€Ō_Ō389Ō_Ō€F.3d€35,€42€n.7€(1st€Cir.€2004).€€GivenŠ `  Šher€striking€lack€of€curiosity€as€to€the€actual€contents€of€the€boxŠ  š  Šthat€had€consumed€her€entire€morning,€the€jury€could€haveŠ 0€  Šrationally€concluded€that€Thomas€was€at€the€least€willfully€blindŠ Ą Što€the€fact€that€she€was€smuggling€narcotics.Š P  Šą  ąą ` ąIt€is€true€that€Thomas€is€an€unlikely€drug€dealer€orŠ ą0 Šsmuggler.€€A€native€of€St.€Kitts€and€a€twenty„seven„year€residentŠ pĄ Šof€Puerto€Rico,€Thomas€is€a€forty„four„year€old€single€mother€ofŠ P Šnine€children,€ranging€in€ages€from€ņņóóten€to€twenty„five.€€By€allŠ ą Šappearances,€she€is€hard„working,€operating€a€beauty€parlor€fromŠ  p Šher€modest€home€and,€on€weekends,€running€a€small€entertainmentŠ °  Šbar,€Caribbean€Flavor€Pub,€where€she€serves€food€and€liquor.€€ThereŠ @" Šis€no€sign€of€the€accumulation€of€any€ill„gotten€gains.€€To€theŠ Š $ Šcontrary,€one€of€the€telephone€calls€she€had€received€while€waitingŠ `"°& Šat€Pier€10€relayed€the€unhappy€news€that€the€electric€company€wasŠ ° Šthreatening€to€cut€off€service€for€failure€to€pay.€€Finally,€onŠ @ Šarrest,€she€was€carrying€a€relatively€modest€sum€of€money.€€It€isŠ Š  Šalso€true€that€there€was€no€direct€evidence€that€she€was€aware€ofŠ ` ° Šthe€contents€of€the€box.€€It€is,€however,€within€the€uniqueŠ š @ Šprovince€of€the€jury€to€sift€through€conflicting€evidence,€assessŠ € Š  Šthe€credibility€of€the€witnesses,€and€find€facts.€€As€the€SupremeŠ `  ŠCourt€stated:Š  š  Šą8  ąÓÓņņóóą ° ąą0Š Š ąą ° ąą8Š Š ąA€fundamental€premise€of€our€criminal€trial€system€isŠ 0€  Šthat€š šthe€jury€is€the€lie€detector.šš€€Determining€theŠ ųH  Šweight€and€credibility€of€witness€testimony,€therefore,Š Ą Šhas€long€been€held€to€be€the€š špart€of€every€case€[that]Š ˆŲ Šbelongs€to€the€jury,€who€are€presumed€to€be€fitted€for€it€Š P  Šby€their€natural€intelligence€and€their€practicalŠ h Šknowledge€of€men€and€the€ways€of€men.ššŠą0Š Š  ŠĢÓÓņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€Ō_ŌņņSchefferóóŌ_Ō,€523€U.S.€303,€313€(1998)€(citationŠ pĄ Šomitted);€ņņsee€alsoóó€ņņBlakeóó€v.€Ō_ŌņņPellegrinoóóŌ_Ō,€329€F.3d€43,€47€(1st€Cir.Š P Š2003)€(š šIt€is€the€jury,€not€the€court,€which€is€the€fact„findingŠ ą Šbody.€€It€weighs€the€contradictory€evidence€and€inferences,€judgesŠ  p Šthe€credibility€of€witnesses€...€and€draws€the€ultimate€conclusions€Š °  Šas€to€the€facts.šš€(omission€in€original)€(quoting€ņņBoston€&€Me.€R.R.óóŠ @" Šv.€ņņCabanaóó,€148€F.2d€150,€152€(1st€Cir.€1945)€(internal€quotationŠ Š $ Šmarks€omitted)).ņņóóŠ `"°& Šą  ąą ` ąUltimately,€it€is€Thomasššs€own€trial€testimony€that€sealsŠ š#@( Šher€fate€on€appeal.€€At€trial,€Thomas€proclaimed€her€totalŠ €%Š * Šinnocence€and€insisted€that€the€entire€plot€was€concocted€by€theŠ '`", Šcook.€€She€€maintained€that€she€was€there€only€to€take€the€cookŠ  (š#. Šshopping€and€that€it€was€the€cook€who€duped€her€into€transportingŠ 0*€%0 Šthe€box€of€Pink€Lady.€€What€may€have€been€plausible€at€trial,Š Ą+'2 Šhowever,€becomes€untenable€on€appeal,€once€the€evidence€is€viewedŠ ° Šin€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€government.€€The€governmentššsŠ @ Ševidence€establishes€that€Thomas€was€implicated€to€some€degree€withŠ Š  ŠSmalls€in€the€scheme€and€her€protestations€of€absolute€innocenceŠ ` ° Šcannot€be€reconciled€with€the€weight€of€the€collective€evidence.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś6Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀Š š @ ŠIf€Thomas€had€admitted€the€bulk€of€the€governmentššs€evidence€butŠ € Š  Šdenied€the€final€crucial€element€„„€that€she€knew€the€box€containedŠ `  Šnarcotics€„„€her€trial€testimony€would€at€least€be€consistent€withŠ  š  Šher€current€legal€argument.€€But,€once€the€case€is€cast€in€theŠ 0€  Šlight€most€favorable€to€the€government,€the€evidence€exposes€anŠ Ą Šinexplicable€inconsistency€between€what€the€government€proved€andŠ P  Šwhat€Thomas€stated€under€oath.€€In€view€of€this€inconsistency,€theŠ ą0 Šjury€could€well€have€found€Thomasššs€testimony€incredible€and€foundŠ pĄ Šthat€she€was€neither€hermetically€sealed€from€the€true€nature€ofŠ P Šthe€criminal€enterprise€nor€that€the€cook€was€the€actual€culprit.€Š ą ŠņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņSoto„Ō_ŌBeniquezŌ_Ōóó,€356€F.3d€1,€52€(1st€Cir.€2004)Š  p Š(š š[Ō_ŌP]lausibleŌ_Ō€credibility€determinations€cannot€be€disturbed€onŠ °  Šappeal.šš).Š @" Šą  ąą ` ąIn€sum,€when€viewed€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€theŠ Š $ Šgovernment,€a€š šrational€factfinder€could€find,€beyond€a€reasonableŠ `"°& Šdoubt,€that€the€prosecution€successfully€proved€the€essentialŠ š#@( Šelements€of€the€crime.šš€€ņņŌ_ŌCarucciŌ_Ōóó,€364€F.3d€at€343.Š €%Š * Šą  ąņ ņą ` ąB.€€Rule€608(b)ó óŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąWe€need€not€tarry€long€with€the€second€issue.€€DefenseŠ @ Šcounsel€was€aware€from€handling€other€matters€that€Modesto€AugustoŠ Š  ŠMesa,€a€convicted€felon,€had€previously€accused€the€CI€of€retainingŠ ` ° Šfor€himself€part€of€a€drug€shipment€in€another€case€in€which€the€CIŠ š @ Šhad€participated€as€an€informant.€€On€cross„examination,€defenseŠ € Š  Šcounsel€sought€to€question€the€CI€as€to€whether€Mesaššs€accusationŠ `  Šwas€true,€and€the€district€court€allowed€it.€€However,€whenŠ  š  Šquestioned€about€the€prior€bad€act,€the€CI€flatly€denied€it.€€AfterŠ 0€  Šthe€CIššs€denial,€defense€counsel€asked€leave€to€call€Mesa€as€aŠ Ą Šwitness€in€an€effort€to€prove€that€the€CI€was€lying.€€The€districtŠ P  Šcourt€refused€permission.€€Thomas€contends€the€trial€courtššsŠ ą0 Šrefusal€violated€Rule€608(b)€and€infringed€her€Sixth€AmendmentŠ pĄ Šright€of€confrontation.Š P Šą  ąą ` ąThomas€misses€the€mark.€€First,€the€rules€of€evidence€doŠ ą Šnot€require€the€admission€of€such€extrinsic€evidence.€€Rule€608(b)Š  p Šprovides€in€part€that€š š[Ō_Ōs]pecificŌ_Ō€instances€of€the€conduct€of€aŠ °  Šwitness,€for€the€purpose€of€attacking€or€supporting€the€witnessššŠ @" Šcharacter€for€truthfulness€...€may€not€be€proved€by€extrinsicŠ Š $ Ševidence.šš€€Fed.€R.€Ō_ŌEvidŌ_Ō.€608(b).€€It€is€š šwell€established€that€aŠ `"°& Šparty€may€not€present€extrinsic€evidence€to€impeach€a€witness€byŠ š#@( Šcontradiction€on€a€collateral€matter.šš€€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņŌ_ŌBeauchampŌ_Ōóó,Š €%Š * Š986€F.2d€1,3€(1st€Cir.€1993).€€Thus,€š šit€is€often€said€that€when€aŠ '`", Šwitness€testifies€to€a€collateral€matter,€the€examiner€must€takeŠ  (š#. Š[the]€answer.šš€€ņņIdóó.€(internal€quotation€marks€omitted).€€Even€ifŠ 0*€%0 Šthe€proposed€testimony€was€proffered€to€show€bias€rather€than€toŠ Ą+'2 Šattack€the€CIššs€veracity,€it€is€nevertheless€inadmissible€under€aŠ ° ŠRule€402€and€Rule€403€analysis.€€ņņSeeóó€Fed.€R.€Ō_ŌEvidŌ_Ō.€608€AdvisoryŠ @ ŠCommittee€Note€2003€Amendment(š šBy€limiting€the€application€of€theŠ Š  ŠRule€to€proof€of€a€witnessšš€character€for€truthfulness,€theŠ ` ° Šamendment€leaves€the€admissibility€of€extrinsic€evidence€offeredŠ š @ Šfor€other€grounds€of€impeachment€(such€as€contradiction,€priorŠ € Š  Šinconsistent€statement,€bias€and€mental€capacity)€to€Rule€402€andŠ `  Š403.šš).Š  š  Šą  ąą ` ąSecond,€turning€to€the€Confrontation€Clause€question,€inŠ 0€  Šthe€post„ņņCrawfordóó€v.€ņņWashingtonóó,€541€U.S.€36€(2004),€era,€aŠ Ą Šš šbalancing€of€interestsšš€is€still€called€for€and€the€result€mustŠ P  Šdepend€š šupon€the€circumstances€of€the€case.šš€€ņņWhiteóó€v.€ņņŌ_ŌCoplanŌ_Ōóó,€399Š ą0 ŠF.3d€18,€24€(1st€Cir.€2005).€€Here,€in€refusing€to€allow€a€trialŠ pĄ Šwithin€a€trial€on€a€collateral€matter,€the€trial€court€struck€theŠ P Šproper€balance.€€ņņUnited€Statesóó€v.€ņņŌ_ŌCoplinŌ_Ōóó,€ņņNo.€05„2077óó,€2006€U.S.Š ą ŠApp.€LEXIS€23910,€*21€(1st€Cir.€Sept.€ņņóó20,€2006)€(trial€courts€haveŠ  p Šš šundeniable€authority€...€to€place€reasonable€limits€on€cross„Š °  Šexamination€in€order€to€cut€off€protected€discussion€of€marginallyŠ @" Šrelevant€subjects.šš).Š Š $ Šņ ņą  ąIII.€€Conclusionó óŠ `"°& Šą  ąą ` ąThe€judgment€of€the€district€court€is€affirmed.