Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-05-03719/USCOURTS-ca8-05-03719-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Miguel Barrajas-Magana
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the

District of Nebraska.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 05-3719

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* District of Nebraska.

Miguel Barrajas-Magana, *

* [UNPUBLISHED]

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: October 3, 2006

Filed: October 6, 2006

___________

Before RILEY, COLLOTON, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Miguel Barrajas-Magana (Magana) pled guilty to possessing with intent to

distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1). At sentencing, the district court1

 sentenced Magana to the

statutory minimum sentence of 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised

release. On appeal, counsel has moved to withdraw and has filed a brief under Anders

v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), arguing Magana’s sentence is unreasonable. 

Appellate Case: 05-3719 Page: 1 Date Filed: 10/06/2006 Entry ID: 2096942
-2-

The district court had no authority to sentence Magana below the statutory

minimum. See United States v. Chacon, 330 F.3d 1065, 1066 (8th Cir. 2003) (stating

“the only authority for the district court to depart below the statutorily mandated

minimum sentence is found in 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(e) and (f), which apply only when

the government makes a motion for substantial assistance or when the defendant

qualifies under the safety valve provision”). Consequently, we cannot say that the

district court’s sentence was unreasonable.

Having reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988), we

find no nonfrivolous issues. Accordingly, we affirm, and we grant counsel’s motion

to withdraw.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 05-3719 Page: 2 Date Filed: 10/06/2006 Entry ID: 2096942