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U.S. v. Gonzalez-Pena

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 17, 2002
46 F. App'x 498 (9th Cir. 2002)

Opinion


46 Fed.Appx. 498 (9th Cir. 2002) UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Braulio GONZALEZ-PENA, Defendant-Appellant. No. 01-30457. D.C. No. CR-01-00219-TSZ. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. September 17, 2002

Submitted September 9, 2002.

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION.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)

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Thomas S. Zilly, District Judge, Presiding.

Before HUG, O'SCANNLAIN and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Braulio Gonzalez-Pena appeals his 46-month sentence imposed following a guilty plea conviction for distribution of heroin in violation of 21 U.S. C.§§ 841(a)(1) and

Page 499.

841(b)(1)(B), and 18 U.S.C. § 2. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a). We review for clear error a district court's determination of whether defendant is a minor or minimal participant under U.S. S.G. § 3B1.2, United States v. Madera-Gallegos, 945 F.2d 264, 269 (9th Cir.1991), and we affirm.

Gonzalez-Pena contends that the district court erred by refusing to give him a four-level downward adjustment for "minimal" participation, instead of the two-level downward adjustment for "minor" participation. "The defendant has the burden of proving that he is entitled to a downward adjustment based on his role in the offense by a preponderance of the evidence." United States v. Davis, 36 F.3d 1424, 1436 (9th Cir.1994). Contrary to Gonzalez-Pena's contentions, the district court's findings are supported by the record and are not clearly erroneous. See Madera-Gallegos, 945 F.2d at 269 (concluding that wife and partner of heroin dealer was a minor, but not minimal participant where she retrieved a drug sample, and gave it to her husband, who gave it to the undercover agent).

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

U.S. v. Gonzalez-Pena

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 17, 2002
46 F. App'x 498 (9th Cir. 2002)
Case details for

U.S. v. Gonzalez-Pena

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Braulio GONZALEZ-PENA…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Sep 17, 2002

Citations

46 F. App'x 498 (9th Cir. 2002)