Bond v. United States

529 U.S. 334 (2000)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Bond (D) was a passenger on a Greyhound bus that left California bound for Little Rock, Arkansas. The bus stopped, as it was required to do, at the permanent Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas. An agent boarded the bus to check the immigration status of its passengers. After reaching the back of the bus, the agent began walking toward the front. Along the way, he squeezed the soft luggage which passengers had placed in the overhead storage space above the seats. The agent squeezed a green canvas bag and noticed that it contained a 'brick-like' object. D admitted that the bag was his and agreed to allow the agent to open it. The agent discovered a 'brick' of methamphetamine. The brick had been wrapped in duct tape until it was oval-shaped and then rolled in a pair of pants. D was indicted for conspiracy to possess, and possession with intent to distribute, methamphetamine in violation of 84 Stat. 1260, 21 U. S. C. §841(a)(1). D moved to suppress the drugs, arguing that the search of his bag was illegal. D's motion was denied, and the District Court found him guilty on both counts and sentenced him to 57 months in prison. On appeal, D contended that the agent manipulated the bag in a way that other passengers would not. Thus, the Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of the motion to suppress.