Case ID: f-appx_217/html/0396-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      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. Mario CORTEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 05-41620
    Conference Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Feb. 13, 2007.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Guillermo Ruben Garcia, Laredo, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before BARKSDALE, GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Mario Cortez appeals the 57-month sentence imposed following his plea of guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. He argues that the district court erred by refusing to reduce his advisory guidelines offense level for a minor or minimal role in the offense.

Although Cortez may have had the status of a “hired hand,” he was apprehended while loading 363 kilograms of marijuana, and he accompanied a shipment to its destination. Cortez knew the leader of the drug conspiracy, knew that person to be a marijuana distributor, and resumed his association with that person as soon as he was released from prison. The record shows that Cortez was involved with more than 700 kilograms of marijuana; he assisted with the transportation of at least two loads; and he did whatever the leader told him to do. The district court did not commit clear error by refusing to reduce Cortez’s offense level for his role in the offense. See United States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 598 (5th Cir.2001); United States v. Zuniga, 18 F.3d 1254, 1261 (5th Cir. 1994).

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       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.