Case ID: f-appx_91/html/0360-01.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. Miguel JIMENEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
    Nos. 03-50219, 03-50220.
    Summary Calendar
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 2, 2004.
    Mara A. Blatt, Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant US Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Adrienne Urrutia, Law Office of Adrienne Urrutia, San Antonio, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Miguel Jimenez appeals his convictions and sentences for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug conspiracy, and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) and that the district court erred in sentencing him to ten years’ imprisonment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(iii).

The evidence adduced at trial established that Jimenez’s role within the drug conspiracy was to protect the organization’s marijuana and drug proceeds. Additionally, Jimenez would make marijuana deliveries and pick up money from customers at the direction of Guillermo Recio. In order to fulfill his role, Jimenez carried firearms, including a 9mm handgun. At the time of his arrest, Jimenez had the 9mm handgun with him and was present in a house where a large quantity of marijuana was found. The jury could reasonably have inferred that Jimenez was present in the house to protect marijuana on behalf of the Recio organization. Therefore, the jury could reasonably have found that Jimenez used or carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. See United States v. Ortega Reyna, 148 F.3d 540, 543 (5th Cir.1998); United States v. Laury, 49 F.3d 145, 151 (5th Cir.1995).

The trial testimony also established that Jimenez discharged the 9mm firearm on two occasions. Jimenez fired the weapon into the air in the parking lot of a strip club in Memphis, Tennessee. He also fired the weapon during the course of an attempted contract killing in San Antonio. Therefore, the district court did not err in applying 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).

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.