Case ID: f-appx_94/html/0241-01.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. Fernando AGUILAR, also known as David Fernandez, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 03-40732.
    Summary Calendar
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 19, 2004.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant US Attorney, David Hill Peck, US Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Ned Ernest Norquest, Norquest & Brisack, McAllen, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before GARWOOD, EMILIO M. GARZA and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Fernando Aguilar pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute ninety-one kilograms of marijuana and was sentenced to fifty-seven months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release. Aguilar appeals his sentence, asserting that the district court clearly erred when it denied a reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B 1.2(b) for a minor role in the offense. Aguilar contends that his role was that of a mere courier.

We review the finding on a defendant’s role in an offense for clear error. United States v. Deavours, 219 F.3d 400, 404 (5th Cir.2000). A two-level adjustment for a minor role applies in the case of a defendant “who is less culpable than most other participants, but whose role could not be described as minimal.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment, (n.5). The defendant bears the burden of proving that he was a minor participant in the offense. United States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 597 (5th Cir.2001).

Aguilar’s admissions demonstrate that he acted in a greater capacity than a mere courier. Aguilar did not demonstrate that the information in the presentence report was unreliable. United States v. Young, 981 F.2d 180, 185 (5th Cir.1992). Further, holding only a courier-type role does not automatically entitle a defendant to the U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) reduction for a minor participant. See United, States v. Rojas, 868 F.2d 1409, 1410 (5th Cir.1989); United States v. Gallegos, 868 F.2d 711, 713 (5th Cir.1989). The district court’s implicit finding that Aguilar was not entitled to the U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) reduction is plausible in light of the record viewed as a whole. Burton v. United States, 237 F.3d 490, 500 (5th Cir.2000).

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction and sentence is AFFIRMED. This action is REMANDED for the sole purpose of allowing the district court to correct the written judgment to reflect that the term of supervised release is two years. AFFIRMED; REMANDED FOR CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN JUDGMENT. 
      
       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.