Case ID: f-appx_204/html/0396-01.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. Juan ALVAREZ-TERAN, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 05-40632.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided Oct. 31, 2006.
    
      James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    David J. Lumber, Guerra & Moore, McAllen, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before SMITH, WIENER, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

D efendant-App ellant Juan Alvarez-Teran appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to bring undocumented aliens into the United States for private financial gain. He contends that the district court clearly erred when it enhanced his sentence under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.1(b)(6) in reliance on information that Alvarez transported aliens in a pickup truck. He also urges that there was insufficient evidence to show that he knew or reasonably should have foreseen that the sexual assault of a minor was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, and that there was insufficient evidence to show that any other sexual assault occurred.

We review the factual findings of the district court for clear error. United States v. Villegas, 404 F.3d 355, 359 (5th Cir.2005); United States v. Villanueva, 408 F.3d 193, 203 n. 9 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 268, 163 L.Ed.2d 241 (2005).

Alvarez’s argument that the district court applied the four-level enhancement of § 2Ll.l(b)(6) based on a finding that he transported aliens in the bed of a pickup truck is without merit. The record reflects that the district court relied on the facts contained in the presentence report detailing physical and sexual abuse when applying this enhancement.

Further, the facts of the presentence report and the testimony of Agent Jose Ovalle support the district court’s finding that physical and sexual abuse of aliens occurred in relation to Alvarez’s conduct and that he either knew of the conduct or it was reasonably foreseeable. Witnesses and co-defendants stated that Alvarez was directly involved in transporting females to a stash house in McAllen, Texas, for the purpose of their performing sexual favors. Additionally, Alvarez was one of the leaders of the smuggling organization. The district court’s findings were not clearly erroneous.

Alvarez also contends that his sentence is unconstitutional in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), because his sentence was enhanced based on factual findings by the district court to which he did not admit and were not proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Alvarez was sentenced after the decision in Booker and thus pursuant to an advisory guidelines scheme. The district court’s factual findings under an advisory guidelines scheme did not violate his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. See Booker, 543 U.S. at 233, 259, 125 S.Ct. 738.

Accordingly, 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.