Case ID: f-appx_35/html/0287-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Jose Luis AGUIRRE-BURCIAGA, also known as Alex, Appellant.
    No. 01-3582.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted May 14, 2002.
    Filed May 20, 2002.
    Before McMILLIAN, FAGG, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

After a jury convicted Jose Luis Aguirre-Burciaga of conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 (Supp. V 1999), the district court sentenced him to 235 months in prison. Aguirre-Burciaga appeals his conviction and sentence.

Aguirre-Burciaga contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict him. Joseph Godina, a drug dealer turned FBI informant, testified he was present for more than a half dozen transactions when Aguirre-Burciaga sold large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana (or some combination of them) to Alejandro Tarin, who was Godina’s primary supplier. Further, Godina testified he frequently helped Tarin repackage large quantities of drugs for resale and these large quantities were often wrapped in the same packaging as the drugs he saw Aguirre-Burciaga sell to Tarin. Additional witnesses provided further circumstantial evidence of Aguirre-Burciaga’s involvement in the drug dealing conspiracy. Aguirre-Burciaga, however, denied any involvement in drug dealing. Having reviewed the evidence de novo in the light most favorable to the government, we conclude the evidence was sufficient to convince a reasonable jury of Aguirre-Burciaga’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Morar-Higuera, 269 F.3d 905, 910 (8th Cir.2001).

Aguirre-Burciaga also appeals his sentence, arguing the district court committed clear error when it applied a two-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 (2001) after finding Aguirre-Burciaga obstructed justice by perjuring himself at trial. See United States v. Hollingsworth, 257 F.3d 871, 879 (8th Cir.2001). Under oath, Aguirre-Burciaga denied involvement in any conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs. The jury rejected this argument through its verdict. During sentencing, the court stated Aguirre-Burciaga “clearly lied, in my opinion, and that’s why I am going to give him the two points.” (Tr. 688). We conclude the court did not commit clear error in applying an obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement under these circumstances.

For the reasons stated above, we affirm Aguirre-Burciaga’s conviction and sentence. 
      
       The Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.