Opinion
No. 06-10477 Summary Calendar.
June 15, 2007.
Tanya K. Pierce, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas, Lubbock, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Cornelio Banda, Spur, TX, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, USDC No. 6:05-CR-10-2.
Before KING, HIGGINBOTHAM, and GARZA, Circuit Judges.
Cornelio Banda appeals his sentence following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 846. He argues that the district court erroneously calculated the drug quantity attributable to him when determining his guideline range.
We review the district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Caldwell, 448 F.3d 287, 290 (5th Cir. 2006). The district court's calculation of drug quantity is a factual finding that is entitled to considerable deference and is reviewed for clear error. United States v. Betancourt, 422 F.3d 240, 246 (5th Cir. 2005). "A factual finding is not clearly erroneous as long as it is plausible in light of the record as a whole." Id. (internal quotation and citation omitted).
Testimony at trial showed that Banda was involved in numerous drug transactions as both a supplier and receiver of methamphetamine. For example, Banda supplied drugs to Michael Fletcher weekly from March 2004 to June 2004 in varying amounts. Banda concedes that a conservative estimate of one ounce per week would equate to one pound of methamphetamine. He also supplied drugs to Fletcher on four or five subsequent occasions in amounts of one to two ounces. Banda was connected to at least two other transactions involving pound quantities, was involved in multiple transactions of lesser amounts, and engaged in bartering his dogs for drugs. The district court is permitted to make reasonable estimates of drug quantities and may make reasonable inferences from the facts. Betancourt, 422 F.3d at 246. In light of this and the wide latitude afforded the district court's findings, the district court's conclusion that Banda was involved with at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was not clearly erroneous based on the record as a whole. See id.
Banda also argues that the district court's determination of facts relevant to determining the guideline range violates his Sixth Amendment rights and Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Banda correctly concedes that this argument is foreclosed. See United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 518-19 (5th Cir. 2005).
AFFIRMED.