Case ID: f-appx_310/html/0643-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Trini Lopez ESPINOZA, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 08-50392
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Feb. 12, 2009.
    Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Phil Martinez, Law Office of Phil Martinez, Waco, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before WIENER, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Trini Lopez Espinoza was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced to life in prison and a five-year term of supervised release.

The district court’s calculation of the applicable advisory guidelines sentencing range was based on its determination that Espinoza had a base offense level of 38. That base offense level was chosen based on the district court’s finding that, for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, Espinoza was accountable for more than 150 kilograms of cocaine.

Espinoza argues on appeal that the district court’s drug quantity determination was clearly erroneous. He maintains that the district court relied on information from witness Gabriel Hernandez that was materially untrue. Even if we discount the portion of Hernandez’s testimony that is contested by Espinoza, the district court’s factual finding that Espinoza was accountable for more than 150 kilograms of cocaine is plausible in light of the whole record. See United States v. Cisneros-Gutierrez, 517 F.3d 751, 764 (5th Cir.2008). Accordingly, that finding is not clearly erroneous. Id.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.