Opinion
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)
Page 615.
U.S. Attorney, USSD--Office of the U.S. Attorney, San Diego, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Michelle Betancourt, FDSD--Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Larry A. Burns, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CR-04-00896-LAB.
Before: HUG, O'SCANNLAIN, and SILVERMAN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Juan Ramon Ortega-Balderas appeals the 78-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for importation of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960, and 18 U.S.C. § 2.
Under the circumstances of this case, we conclude that the plea agreement waiver is not enforceable. See United States v. Buchanan, 59 F.3d 914, 918 (9th Cir.1995). We cannot reliably determine from the record whether the sentence imposed would have been materially different had the district court known that the Guidelines were mandatory. Accordingly, we remand to the sentencing court to answer that question, and to proceed pursuant to United States v. Ameline, 409 F.3d 1073, 1084 (9th Cir.2005) (en banc). See United States v. Moreno-Hernandez, 419 F.3d 906, 916 (9th Cir.2005).
REMANDED.