Defendant-Appellant Ricardo Macias Infante appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to import marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. For the following reasons, we VACATE and REMAND to the district court for a determination on the question whether Infante’s trial counsel’s conflict of interest adversely affected his representation.
I. BACKGROUND
By a grand jury indictment returned on January 9, 2001, Defendant-Appellant Ricardo Infante and four co-defendants 1 were charged in a twelve-count indictment in the Pecos Division of the Western District of Texas. Only counts one, two, and ten of the indictment implicated Infante. The charges against him were: (1) conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 (Count One); (2) conspiracy to import more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana from Mexico to the United States in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960, and 963 (Count Two); and *382 (3) possession with intent to distribute, or aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute, more than 100 kilograms but less than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana on June 29, 2000 in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Count Ten). The indictment charged In-fante with participation in a conspiracy-spanning from January 23, 2000 to July 14, 2000. It charged him with only a single substantive count (Count Ten), relating to a drug-trafficking incident occurring on June 29, 2000.
Infante pled not guilty to all counts on January 12, 2001. His case was tried before a jury on August 20 and 21, 2001. At trial, the government presented evidence to establish six different incidents in which members of the alleged conspiracy were apprehended while transporting marijuana from Mexico into the United States. 2 First, the government introduced evidence that on January 23, 2000, Zubia-Salgado and Polanco-Pando were stopped at a checkpoint south of Marfa, Texas while driving a pickup truck that was found to have a hidden compartment containing 369.86 pounds of marijuana. Neither Zu-bia-Salgado nor Polanco-Pando testified at Infante’s trial.
Second, the government presented evidence that on January 29, 2000, Juan Gallegos-Natera was intercepted in or around Alpine, Texas while driving a pickup truck with a secret compartment containing 290.72 pounds of marijuana. Natera testified that he was promised payment by Sanchez, whom he met through a friend, for transporting the marijuana from Mexico into Texas. However, he stated that he had never met nor heard of Infante.
Third, the government set forth evidence that on February 26, 2000, the border patrol stopped Kristy Navarette and Lionel Campos, Salcido’s nephew, while driving a Ford Bronco through the checkpoint south of Marfa, Texas. The border patrol discovered 96.52 pounds of marijuana hidden in the Bronco’s gas tank. Na-varette admitted that she had transported drugs across the border on a number of other occasions before being caught on February 26, 2000. She stated that she had used a Ford Bronco and a blue 1995 Chevy Suburban on those occasions. Na-varette further testified that Campos, Sanchez, and Salcido were all players in the drug-trafficking operation with which she was involved, that Salcido is a known drug trafficker in the Ojinaga, Mexico area, and that she had met Polanco-Pando at some point in connection with this operation as well. However, she indicated that she never had met nor heard of Infante.
Fourth, the government presented evidence that on May 10, 2000, Benjamin Belloc was stopped at the checkpoint south of Marfa while driving a pickup truck that was discovered to have a hidden compartment containing 285.3 pounds of marijuana. Belloc admitted that Sanchez hired him to transport the marijuana into the United States and that he had smuggled drugs into the United States on at least five separate occasions. He testified that he had previously used a black truck, a red and gray Ford truck, and a blue Suburban on those occasions. He also stated that he did not know Infante and never had seen him before.
*383 Fifth, the government introduced evidence that on June 29, 2000, the border patrol stopped Benigno Castellón while he was driving a Suburban that was found to have a secret compartment containing 715.46 pounds of marijuana. Castellón testified that prior to being arrested for drug trafficking, he had worked at In-fante’s auto-mechanic shop, Infante Motors. He stated that he had gone to Mexico with Infante on or about June 18, 2000, where he met Salcido, who is Infante’s brother-in-law. Castellón testified that he agreed at that time to transport his first load of marijuana (roughly forty-seven pounds) into the United States in exchange for $2,000. Castellón stated that he delivered the first marijuana load from Mexico to Infante’s house. He further testified that on June 29, 2000, Infante drove him to the bus station so that he could travel to Mexico, pick up the Suburban containing a second load of marijuana, and drive it back to Texas. It was while transporting this second load that Castellón was apprehended by the authorities. The Suburban that Castellón was driving when he was arrested was confiscated. An examination of the impounded Suburban revealed that it had been freshly painted and that it was blue underneath the new coat of white paint. 3
Sixth, the government presented evidence that on July 14, 2000, Barbara Rivera-Hernandez was apprehended while driving a pickup truck between 100 and 200 yards from the US-Mexico border in Presidio, Texas. The border patrol discovered 841.24 pounds of marijuana hidden in a compartment under the floor-board of the truck. Rivera-Hernandez testified that Salcido, a known drug trafficker, had arranged for her to transport the marijuana into the United States. She also testified that she did not know Infante.
On August 21, 2001, the jury found In-fante guilty of all three counts of the indictment. However, the jury found In-fante guilty on the conspiracy counts with respect to only between 100 and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, in contrast to the indictment, which charged Infante with conspiracy involving more than 1,000 kilograms. With respect to Count One, the jury expressly noted on its verdict form that it found Infante guilty only “as of June 29, 2000.” The district court interpreted this note to mean that the jury found that Infante was involved only in the one transaction, which involved Castel-lón and occurred on June 29, 2000. Accordingly, the district court directed the probation officer assigned to Infante’s case to take into consideration the amount of marijuana involved only in that single transaction when preparing the presen-tencing report (“PSR”). The probation officer complied with this instruction, listing 324.53 kilograms ■ (715.46 pounds) as the amount of marijuana attributable to In- *384 fante. 4 The PSR, applying the 2001 edition of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual, recommended a base offense level of twenty-six. See U.S. SENTENCING Guidelines Manual § 2Dl.l(a)(3)(c)(7) (2001). 5 The PSR also recommended an upward adjustment of two levels for obstruction of justice because Infante became a fugitive from justice after he was convicted. See U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. The PSR gave Infante four criminal history points, putting him in a criminal history category of three. The PSR noted that the total recommended period of incarceration under the applicable Guidelines for an offense level of twenty-eight and a criminal history category of three was 97 to 121 months. As to each of the three counts, the district court sentenced In-fante to 109 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, the sentences on all counts to run concurrently.
Infante now appeals his conviction and sentence. He raises seven issues on appeal. First, Infante argues that the government presented insufficient evidence to convict him. Second, he asserts that his conviction should be reversed because the government failed to disclose that Castel-lón had been ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if he was competent to stand trial in a separate, but related, criminal ease against him (for trafficking drugs on June 29, 2000 and for his involvement in the drug conspiracy). Third, Infante claims that the district court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on newly acquired evidence that Castellón suffers from memory problems. Fourth, he claims that the district court erred by admitting evidence that he received traffic tickets for failure to change the registration on a vehicle he was driving to Mexico. Fifth, Infante asserts that the district court improperly commented on the evidence in a written response to a jury note. Sixth, he argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his attorney labored under a conflict of interest. Seventh, he argues that the district court erred in enhancing his sentence for obstruction of justice. We address each of these arguments in turn.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Infante asserts that the evidence presented at his trial was insufficient to sustain his conviction.
6
This court reviews a defendant’s claim of insufficient evidence to determine “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
United States v. Bellew,
The jury convicted Infante of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possess marijuana with the intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and 846 (Count One) and conspiracy to import marijuana under 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960, and 963 (Count Two). To establish a conspiracy under these sections, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that: (1) an agreement existed between the defendant and one or more persons to violate the applicable narcotics laws; (2) each defendant knew of the conspiracy and intended to join it; and (3) the defendant participated voluntarily in the conspiracy.
United States v. Medina,
The jury also convicted Infante of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, including aiding and abetting such possession with intent to distribute, under 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (Count Ten). To convict a defendant of possession with intent to distribute, the government must prove: (1) knowing (2) possession of an illegal substance (3) with the requisite intent to distribute.
See United States v. Garza,
Infante claims that the evidence introduced at his trial was insufficient to allow a reasonable juror to find him guilty of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. We disagree. The government introduced the testimony of Castellón, which established that Castellón and Infante had traveled to Mexico together on or around June 18, 2000. According to Castellon’s testimony, once in Mexico, Infante introduced Castellón to Infante’s brother-in-law, Salci-do. The three men then arranged for Castellón to drive a small shipment of marijuana (approximately forty-seven pounds) across the border into Texas. Castellón did so and delivered the drugs to Infante at his home. Castellón also stated that Infante discussed the arrangements for the June 29 load and that Infante drove Castellón to the bus station, where Castellón took the bus to Mexico to pick up a second load of marijuana. Castellón testified that Infante knew the drug-related purpose of the trip because the two men had discussed the plans during the preceding weeks and because Salcido had contacted Infante about the load a number of times on his cell phone. This testimony, when viewed in the light most favorable to
*386
the prosecution, sufficiently supported the jury’s verdict.
See United States v. Turner,
Moreover, Castellon’s testimony was corroborated by the telephone toll records establishing a connection between Infante, Salcido, and Sanchez. For example, a number of calls were made between these three men’s cell phones, including an increased number of calls in the days before Castellon’s load of marijuana was scheduled to go across the border. In addition, a number of calls were made from In-fante’s cell phone to the Presidio and Brewster county jails and Sheriffs offices on the day after Castellón was arrested. Infante maintains on appeal that no evidence proves the contents of these calls were drug related, and he further argues that the discussions theoretically could have been family or work related. Although this might be true, it does not make the jury’s inference of Infante’s involvement with the drug conspiracy unreasonable, especially because when Infante took the stand, he did not claim to have discussed non-drug-related matters in these calls. Instead, he denied ever making the twenty-plus calls to Sanchez (he denied knowing Sanchez at all) or the calls to the jails the day after Castellón was arrested. In fact, he maintained that he had no idea who had made any of these calls with his cell phone. The jury reasonably disbelieved his explanation in light of the evidence that very few other people had access to Infante’s cell phone. Similarly, the jury reasonably disbelieved In-fante’s testimony that these calls must have been made by an unknown member of the general public who broke into In-fante’s garage in the middle of the night and used his cell phone to call the drug traffickers. In sum, the jury discredited Infante’s testimony and found his story to be unbelievable. Accordingly, the testimony of Castellón providing direct evidence, which was supported by other circumstantial evidence, sufficiently supported the jury’s guilty verdict on all three counts.
B. Disclosure of Evidence under Brady
Next, Infante argues that his conviction should be reversed because the government violated
Brady v. Maryland,
Even if we assume, without deciding, that Infante has established the factors required for a
Brady
claim, his argument still fails.
“Brady
rights are not denied where the information was fully available to the defendant and his reason for not obtaining and presenting such information was his lack of reasonable diligence.”
United States v. Dean,
C. Motion for New Trial and Newly Discovered Evidence
Infante also argues that the district court erred by not granting his motion for a new trial. Several months after Infante was convicted, the previously discussed psychological evaluation of Castellón was prepared in connection with the criminal case against him. Infante argues that this psychological evaluation, which disclosed that Castellón suffered from memory problems, constitutes newly discovered evidence warranting a new trial.
This court reviews the denial of a motion for new trial for an abuse of discretion.
United States v. Jaramillo,
The district court denied Infante’s motion because it remained unconvinced that the introduction of the psychiatric report probably would have produced an acquittal. We cannot say that the court abused its discretion in denying Infante’s motion because, as the district court noted, Castellón admitted on the stand that he had memory problems and that he had to write things down to remember. Thus, the jury had information that Castellon’s memory was imperfect, and the defense had the opportunity to cross-examine him on that point. The jury credited Castellon’s testimony when compared to Infante’s conflicting testimony notwithstanding their knowledge that Castellón had a bad memory. Furthermore, Castellon’s critical testimony that Infante was involved in the alleged conspiracy did not rely heavily on a memory of intricate facts such as the precise order of dates and times, and it was supported by corroborating evidence in the form of phone records. In addition, although the psychiatric evalu *388 ation placed Castellón in the below-average range in the area of immediate memory, it placed him well within the average range for working memory. In light of these facts, we cannot say that the introduction of the information contained in the psychiatric evaluation probably would have resulted in an acquittal. Thus, the district court did not err in denying Infante’s motion for a new trial.
D. U0k(b) Evidence
Infante also complains that the district court erred in admitting evidence that he received traffic tickets for driving a Suburban without registration and for failing to change the name on the registration. DEA Agent Mike Hill testified at Infante’s trial that after he found the traffic tickets in Infante’s home, he questioned Infante about them. Infante replied that he had received the tickets in December 2000 (which is after the scope of the conspiracy with which Infante was charged) while he was driving a 1984 Chevy Suburban to Mexico to have it painted. 7 The government presented other evidence at trial that the conspirators drove unregistered vehicles to Mexico where they had them painted before using them to transport marijuana back into the United States. Infante argues that this evidence is extrinsic to the crimes with which he was charged and that it is inadmissible propensity evidence under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). 8
Because Infante did not object to the admission of this evidence at trial, our review is for plain error.
See United States v. Avants,
For admission under Rule 404(b), extrinsic evidence must satisfy two criteria: “(1) it must be relevant under Federal Rule of Evidence 401 to an issue other than the defendant’s character; and (2) it must have probative value that substantially outweighs its prejudicial impact under Federal Rule of Evidence 403.”
United States v. Walters,
E. Comment on the Evidence
Infante also argues that his conviction should be reversed because the district court improperly commented on the evidence. During its deliberations, the jury wrote a note to the district court asking: “The Suburban that [Infante] was pulled over by the DPS — and rec[ei]ved a ticket for not having registration on it. Is it the same one that was confiscated?” The district court responded in writing: “There is no evidence either way.” Infante claims that this was an incorrect characterization because the evidence showed that the Suburban that Naverette admitted to having used to transport marijuana was a 1995 model, whereas the Suburban that Infante drove when he received his ticket was a 1984 model. He argues that, although he did not object at trial, the comment should be reviewed for abuse of discretion rather than plain error because the record does not show that he had an opportunity to object (i.e., it does not show that he knew the judge had received the note and intended to comment on the evidence). We need not decide the proper standard of review here, however, because Infante’s argument fails under either standard.
The government points out that, although the Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) argued the inference that Navarette (and Belloc) had used the same vehicle as Castellón, the Suburban that was confiscated was the one Castellón was driving when he was arrested on June 29, 2000, and no evidence indicates the year of that Suburban. Thus, no evidence directly linked or refuted a possible link between the confiscated Suburban and the unregistered Suburban that Infante was driving when he received his ticket.
Infante also complains that the district court did not instruct the jury that it was not bound by his comment on the evidence. Although the district court did not specifically admonish the jury when it answered this particular question, the court instructed the jury a number of times throughout the trial that the jury, and not the court, is the sole judge of the facts. More important, even if the district court did so err, any such error was harmless because the jury had ample evidence before it to find Infante guilty even if it had been conclusively proven that the Suburbans driven by Castellón and Infante were not the same.
See United States v. Mitchell,
F. Conflict of Interest
Infante argues that he was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel because his attorney labored under a conflict of interest. “Under the Sixth Amendment, if a defendant has a constitutional right to counsel, he also has a corresponding right to representation that is free from any conflict of interest.”
United States v. Vaquero,
Before trial, the government filed a Rule 44 motion to bring Attorney Foster’s potential conflict of interest to the district court’s attention. The district court held a limited hearing on the matter. 9 At that hearing, the AUSA stated that he saw a potential conflict of interest but did not believe an actual conflict existed. The AUSA indicated that Foster represented Gallegos-Natera and Rivera-Hernandez previously in their own criminal cases but that neither witness knew anything about Infante or would directly implicate him in their testimony. Foster explained to the court that he had not gained any confidential information from either Gallegos-Nat-era or Rivera-Hernandez about Infante’s case. The court asked whether these two prospective witnesses were former clients of Attorney Foster, and Foster replied that they were former clients in the sense that they had pled guilty and had been sentenced. However, Foster added that if Gallegos-Natera or Rivera-Hernandez did testify against Infante, then he would “pull [his] files and run over to the [government’s office and ask for a Rule 35 [motion for a reduction in their sentences for substantial assistance in the prosecution of Infante] on [behalf of] the former clients.” Notwithstanding this statement, the district court concluded that no conflict of interest existed and that there was therefore no need to go into a more extensive Garcia 10 hearing. Accordingly, the district court did not question Infante regarding his understanding of the potential conflict of interest, and Infante did not waive his right to conflict-free representation.
As noted above, Gallegos-Natera and Rivera-Hernandez both testified against Infante at his trial, but neither one directly implicated him in the alleged conspiracy. Attorney Foster’s cross-examination of these witnesses neither disputed their testimony that their drug transportation efforts were arranged by Sanchez and Salci-do nor did it contest their credibility or motive for testifying against Infante (by, for example, delving into the details of their plea agreements or their hopes of receiving a reduction in their sentences for substantial assistance). Instead, Foster limited his cross-examination to eliciting testimony that the witnesses had no knowledge of any involvement in the conspiracy by Infante. Infante argues that these facts demonstrate that he was denied his right to conflict-free counsel.
To prevail on his ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, Infante must
*391
show that his trial attorney was acting under the influence of an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected his performance at trial.
See Cuyler v. Sullivan,
Courts of appeals applying
Cuyler
traditionally have couched its test in terms of two questions: (1) whether there was an
actual
conflict of interest, as opposed to a merely potential or hypothetical conflict; and (2) whether the actual conflict adversely affected counsel’s representation.
See, e.g., Perillo,
The district court concluded that Attorney Foster did not labor under any conflict of interest. We disagree. “A conflict [of interest] exists when defense counsel places himself in a position conducive to divided loyalties.”
United States v. Medina,
Although Attorney Foster denied having learned any relevant confidential information from his former clients while representing them, the subject matter of the representations was nearly identical. Foster represented Gallegos-Natera and Rivera-Hernandez in their own criminal cases, and the crimes to which they pled guilty in those cases were part of the same alleged conspiracy with which Infante was charged. Gallegos-Natera and Rivera-Hernandez’s testimony at Infante’s trial consisted primarily of recounting the crimes with which they were charged in the cases in which Foster represented them. Moreover, Foster’s representation of the two witnesses had not been unambiguously terminated because he admitted that he would seek a substantial assistance motion from the government for their testimony against his new client Infante. Even if Foster’s representation of the witnesses was actually completed prior to Infante’s trial, the representations were relatively close in time to his representation of Infante. These factors support our conclusion that a conflict of interest did in fact exist.
See id.
Once Gallegos-Natera and Rivera-Hernandez took the stand to testify against Infante, Foster was put in a position conducive to divided loyalties because he had to choose between vigorously cross-examining his former clients, which might jeopardize their chances of the government filing a Rule 35 motion on their
*393
behalf, and not vigorously cross-examining them, which would risk allowing the government to establish through their testimony an essential element of the case against Infante — namely, that a conspiracy existed.
Cf. Perillo,
However, the question remains whether this conflict of interest was an actual conflict in the sense that it adversely affected Attorney Foster’s representation of Infante. “An adverse effect on counsel’s performance may be shown with evidence that counsel’s judgment was actually fettered by concern over the effect of certain trial decisions on other clients.”
Perillo,
[W]hen a [defendant’s] claim is premised solely upon what a conflicted lawyer failed to do on his or her behalf, the [defendant] must generally establish adverse effect by demonstrating that there was some plausible alternative defense strategy that could have been pursued, but was not, because of the actual conflict.
Id. Infante argues that Foster should have pursued a strategy at trial designed to show that no drug conspiracy existed at all (which would negate an essential element of the conspiracy charges) but that he neglected to do so because of his conflicting duty to his other clients to request that the government file a substantial assistance motion for their testimony against Infante. The government argues that the strategy that Foster pursued, i.e., questioning the witnesses only enough to show that they had no knowledge of Infante, was effective, as evidenced by the jury’s finding that Infante was guilty of conspiracy only as to the June 29 load.
Although we are satisfied that the record demonstrates that a conflict on interest existed, we are not prepared to say that the record is sufficiently developed to allow us to determine whether Attorney Foster’s conflict of interest adversely affected his performance. Therefore, it is necessary to vacate Infante’s conviction and remand to the district court for a determination on the question whether Foster’s conflict of interest adversely affected his representation of Infante.
See United States v. Salado,
G. Sentencing
1. Application of Obstruction of Justice Enhancement
Infante argues that the district court erred in determining that his sentence should be enhanced for obstruction of justice under the Guidelines. We review the district court’s factual determination that Infante obstructed justice for clear error.
United States v. Huerta,
As discussed previously, the PSR recommended the addition of two levels to Infante’s offense level because Infante had become a fugitive from justice after he was convicted but before he was sentenced. At sentencing, the probation officer further informed the court that he had made a number of attempts to contact Infante in connection with preparing the PSR but was unable to find him. The district court asked whether Infante’s absence was involuntary. Infante’s attorney replied: “No, it was just a temporary thing. He was at the point he felt he shouldn’t have to do any time because he was not guilty so he kind of wishy washed around and then finally came in.” The court responded: ‘Well, he didn’t come in when he was supposed to come in.” Accordingly, the court assessed the two additional levels under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, which provides that an obstruction enhancement is proper when a defendant “escape[s] or attempts] to escape from custody before trial or sentencing; or willfully fail[s] to appear, as ordered, for a judicial proceeding.” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt. 4(e). The court’s finding that Infante’s failure to appear constituted obstruction of justice is plausible in light of the record as a whole and therefore is not clearly erroneous. Furthermore, its application of the Guidelines to enhance Infante’s sentence because of that conduct was proper. Therefore, In-fante is not entitled to relief on this ground.
2. Booker Error
Infante also avers that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated under
United States v. Booker,
— U.S. -,
Infante satisfies the first two prongs of the plain-error test because the district court committed Sixth Amendment
Booker
error and because that error is now plain after
Booker. See Mares,
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we DENY Infante’s appeal on all grounds other than his claim that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. Because we find that Infante’s attorney labored under a conflict of interest at Infante’s trial but we cannot determine whether that conflict adversely affected Infante’s representation, we VACATE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for a determination on that issue. If the district court should find that Attorney Foster’s conflict of interest did not adversely affect his performance, then it should reinstate Infante’s conviction and sentence, leaving Infante free to pursue a new appeal on that ground. Any further appeal will be heard by this panel.
VACATED and REMANDED.
Notes
. The four co-defendants were Ramon Manuel Sanchez, Saul Montoya Salcido, Maria Teresa Zubia-Salgado, and Mayla Brenisa Po-lanco-Pando. Sanchez was severed prior to trial. Salcido remains a fugitive. Zubia-Sal-gado and Polanco-Pando both pled guilty.
. The evidence presented in relation to each incident included the testimony of border patrol agents, Drug Enforcement Agency ("DEA") agents, and immigration inspectors who were involved in the apprehension of the drug smugglers. With the exception of one incident, the government also presented the testimony of the apprehended drug smugglers themselves.
. The government concedes that Castellón is the only apprehended drug smuggler to implicate Infante directly. However, the government also introduced phone records showing that Infante’s cell phone had been used to call certain players in the cross-border drug runs described above. For example, between April 8 and July 29, 2000, twelve calls were made from Infante’s cell phone to Campos's phone. Between June 25 and June 28, 2000, roughly twenty calls were made from Sanchez’s cell phone to Infante’s cell phone. On June 25, 2000, five calls were made from Infante's cell phone to Sanchez's cell phone and three calls were made from Infante's cell phone to Salci-do's cell phone. • Between May 18 and June 28, 2000, eight calls were made from In-fante’s to Castellon’s phone. After Castellón was arrested on June 29, Infante's cell phone was used to call the Presidio County Sheriff's Office, the Presidio County Jail, the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brewster County Jail.
. The total amount of marijuana seized by the government in relation to the alleged conspiracy was 2,250.45 kilograms.
. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual is hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines” or "U.S.S.G.”
. Infante moved for a judgment of acquittal at the close of the government's case and at the close of all evidence.
. Infante testified that he drove the Suburban to Mexico (a full day's round trip) to have it painted there because it was considerably less expensive than having it painted in the United States.
. Rule 404(b) provides that:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident ....
. Although, the district judge presiding over Infante's trial was Judge W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., visiting Judge Stanwood Duval presided over the hearing relating to Infante's attorney’s possible conflict of interest.
.
United States v. Garcia,
After twenty-seven years the requirements of United States v. Garcia are at the hand of every trial judge in the circuit. It commands that the district court "address each defendant personally and forthrightly advise him of the potential dangers of representation by a counsel with a conflict of interest" and detail specifics about potential conflicts that are then foreseeable. The trial court should then seek to elicit a response from each defendant "that he understands the details of his attorney's possible conflict of interest and the potential perils of such a conflict."
(quoting
Garcia,
. As we noted in Perillo:
The Cuyler standard applicable when a criminal defendant alleges that counsel's performance was impaired by an actual conflict of interest differs substantially from the Strickland standard generally applicable to Sixth Amendment ineffectiveness claims. Strickland requires a showing that counsel’s performance was deficient, in that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, as well as a showing of prejudice, which is defined as a reasonable probability that counsel’s error changed the result of the proceeding. Cuyler, on the other hand, permits a defendant who raised no objection at trial to recover upon a showing that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected counsel’s performance.
. The
Cuyler
standard applies to Infante's claim notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s recent decision in
Mickens v. Taylor,
. As the Sixth Circuit explained:
In Mickens, the Supreme Court clarified its prior definition of the term "actual conflict of interest” as comprising both requirements of the Sullivan test' — a conflict of interest and adverse effect .... [I]t appears that the “actual conflict of interest” required in the first prong of the court’s test requires only that the petitioner demonstrate a real or genuine, as opposed to a hypothetical, conflict of interest.
Moss,
. Both parties agree that we review the judge’s factual findings for clear error. Ac *394 cordingly, we assume without deciding that clear error is the proper standard post-Boo/c- er.