Case ID: f-appx_243/html/0021-01.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 Antonio ESPINOZA, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 05-41599
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    June 26, 2007.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Juan Antonio Espinoza, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Geo—Central TX Unit, San Antonio, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Juan Antonio Espinoza pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of five kilograms in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). Espinoza appeals his sentence, baldly asserting that (1) the district court erred when it refused to reduce his sentence pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1; (2) the district court erred when it failed to continue his sentencing hearing so that the Government might file a motion under § 5K1.1; and (3) he is entitled to a remand so that the district court can determine why the Government failed to file a motion pursuant to § 5K1.1. The brief comes perilously close to failing to preserve any argument for appeal. See United States v. Thames, 214 F.3d 608, 612 (5th Cir.2000). His assertions are frivolous.

The district court was without authority to reduce Espinoza’s sentence in the absence of a Government motion under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. See Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 184-85, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992); United States v. Price, 95 F.3d 364, 367-68 (5th Cir.1996). The district court offered to continue the sentencing, but Espinoza did not request it, and he has not alleged, much less shown, that the district court’s failure to sua sponte continue the hearing affected his substantial rights. See United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83, 124 S.Ct. 2333, 159 L.Ed.2d 157 (2004); United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 731-737, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). Finally, Espinoza’s request for a remand is baseless given that the district court is without authority to investigate why the Government failed to file a motion under § 5K1.1 absent allegations that it did so for unconstitutional reasons. See Wade, 504 U.S. at 185, 112 S.Ct. 1840; Price, 95 F.3d at 368.

The appeal is dismissed as frivolous. 5th Cir. R. 42.2. We caution counsel that filing frivolous appeals may be sanctioned. United States v. Gaitan, 171 F.3d 222, 223 (5th Cir.1999).

APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED. 
      
       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.