Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01369/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01369-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEBRA GONZALES,

Petitioner,

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

CASE NO. 17cv1369-LAB

ORDER DENYING MOTION UNDER 

28 U.S.C. § 2255

Last summer, Debra Gonzales pled guilty to driving a car loaded with 45 pounds of 

methamphetamine into the United States. The maximum sentence was 20 years in prison—

the Court sentenced Gonzales to 68 months. Gonzales now asks the Court to modify her 

sentence based on her attorney’s failure to argue for safety valve and minor role reductions.

First, Gonzales is wrong on the merits. Her attorney argued for safety valve and the 

Court applied it.

1 The Court also considered minor role, but decided not to grant it.2

Importing 45 pounds of methamphetamine didn’t make Gonzales substantially less culpable

than the average participant in the offense she committed. See United States v. Ng, 202 

F.3d 280 (9th Cir. 1999) (rejecting minor role for attempted importation of 

methamphetamine). Second, since the sentence was less than 71 months, Gonzalez 

agreed to waive any right “to collaterally attack the sentence.”3 See United States v. Abarca, 

985 F.2d 1012 (9th Cir. 1993). The motion is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 10, 2017

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

 

1 Dkt. 32 at 2. 2 Dkt. 26 at 5–6.

3 Dkt. 23 at 11.

Case 3:17-cv-01369-LAB Document 2 Filed 08/11/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 1