CA8: Inability to answer basic questions about travel plans and lying about criminal history was RS

Inability to answer basic questions about travel plans and lying about criminal history was reasonable suspicion. United States v. Riley, 684 F.3d 758 (8th Cir. 2012):

Riley’s case is distinguishable from Jones and Beck when one considers the combination of Riley’s nervous condition, his difficulty in answering basic questions about his itinerary, and his failure to be forthright about his criminal history relating to drugs. In Jones, we noted that an inconsistent answer as to a traveler’s destination and purpose “casts suspicion and doubt on the nature and legitimacy of the activity being investigated.” 269 F.3d at 928. Likewise, in Beck we recognized that reasonable suspicion could derive from “unusual or suspicious travel plans.” 140 F.3d at 1139 … Unlike the suspects in Jones and Beck, who stated their purpose and destination without difficulty, Riley was hesitant and gave conflicting answers to basic questions about his itinerary. … Furthermore, Riley’s misrepresentation about his criminal history was different from the suspect in Jones because Riley’s history involved drugs, which reasonably added to Trooper Rutledge’s suspicions that Riley was trying to hide drug-related activity. See Jones, 269 F.3d at 928; United States v. Gill, 513 F.3d 836, 844 (8th Cir. 2008) (weighing in favor of reasonable suspicion the fact that defendants had prior arrests for drugs and weapons but “[n]either of the defendants answered questions about their criminal records forthrightly”).