Case ID: f-appx_72/html/0969-02.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. Graciella ARTEAGA; Jose Demetrio Arteaga-Limones, also known as Marco Arteaga, Defendants-Appellants.
    No. 02-41511.
    Conference Calendar
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Aug. 20, 2003.
    
      James Lee Turner, Assistant US Attorney, Julia Bowen Stem, Assistant US Attorney, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Richard R. Alamia, Edinburg, TX, for Defendants-Appellants.
    Before JONES, WIENER, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Graciella Arteaga (Graciella) and her husband, Jose Demetrio Arteaga-Limones (Jose), appeal their sentences following their guilty-plea convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1000 kilograms of marijuana.

Graciella contends that the district court clearly erred by imposing a three-level increase in her offense level for her role as a manager or supervisor in the conspiracy. In hght of unrebutted evidence in the PreSentence Report (PSR) showing that Graciella helped manage and supervise other participants, the district court did not commit clear error by imposing the increase. U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(b); see United, States v. Taylor, 277 F.3d 721, 724 (5th Cir.2001).

Graciella also contends that she should not have received a two-level increase for obstruction of justice. Graciella did not rebut the PSR’s evidence showing that she gave false names, presented false identification documents, and misrepresented her immigration status during presentencing investigations. See U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 & comment, (n.4); United States v. McDonald, 964 F.2d 390, 392-93 (5th Cir. 1992). The judgment against Graciella Arteaga is AFFIRMED.

Jose contends that his 84-month sentence, which was the result of a 50 percent downward departure, amounts to cruel and unusual punishment in fight of his age and poor health because the district court did not sua sponte depart further. This court lacks jurisdiction to consider this claim because there is no indication that the district court declined to give an additional downward departure based on any erroneous belief that such a departure was unauthorized by law. See United States v. Landerman, 167 F.3d 895, 899 (5th Cir. 1999). The appeal of Jose Arteaga-Limones is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.

AFFIRMED IN PART; DISMISSED IN PART. 
      
       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.