Motion for Acquittal Granted in Alien Smuggling Case

SAN DIEGO, California — USA v. Jorge Garcia-Chavira, No. 00CR0353-L, June 2000, in front of the Hon. M. James Lorenz, the defendant was charged with attempting to smuggle undocumented people hidden in the trunk of the car he was driving. Defendant was a newspaper publisher and had members of a local news channel testify on his behalf. The majority of the jury (9 out of 12 members) was convinced of his innocence and the trial ended in a mistrial. After a hearing in which Mr. Khojayan argued that no jury would ever find his client guilty, the Hon. M. James Lorenz granted the Motion for Acquittal and his defendant was released.