Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-13-41036/USCOURTS-ca5-13-41036-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Carlos Guerra
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 13-41036

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

CARLOS GUERRA, also known as Guero,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Texas

USDC No. 7:12-CR-874-3

Before REAVLEY, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Carlos Guerra appeals the 210-month sentence the district court 

imposed after he pleaded guilty to (1) conspiracy to possess with intent to 

distribute a controlled substance involving 1000 kilograms or more of 

marijuana and five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a 

detectable amount of cocaine and (2) conspiracy to possess with intent to 

distribute a controlled substance involving 1,000 kilograms or more of 

* 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.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

February 12, 2015

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 

Case: 13-41036 Document: 00512935697 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/12/2015
No. 13-41036

marijuana. Guerra argues that the district court erred in overruling his 

objection to the lack of a mitigating role reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. 

§ 3B1.2.

Whether Guerra was a minimal or minor participant is a factual 

determination that we review for clear error. See United States v. Alaniz, 726 

F.3d 586, 626 (5th Cir. 2013). Guerra does not establish by a preponderance 

of the evidence that he played a minimal role in the conspiracy. See § 3B1.2, 

comment. (n.4); see also Alaniz, 726 F.3d at 626; United States v. De JesusBatres, 410 F.3d 154, 163 (5th Cir. 2005). Nor does he establish that he played 

a “substantially less culpable” role than the “average participant” in the drug 

distribution organization or that his role was “peripheral to the advancement” 

of the organization’s illegal activities. United States v. Villanueva, 408 F.3d 

193, 203-04 (5th Cir. 2005); see Alaniz, 726 F.3d at 626; De Jesus-Batres, 410 

F.3d at 163; United States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 598-99 (5th Cir. 2001); 

§ 3B1.2, comment. (n.5). Accordingly, the district court’s finding that Guerra

was not deserving of a minor role adjustment is not clearly erroneous. See

United States v. Valdez, 726 F.3d 684, 692 (5th Cir. 2013); Villanueva, 408 F.3d 

at 204. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

2

Case: 13-41036 Document: 00512935697 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/12/2015