Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-15-40253/USCOURTS-ca5-15-40253-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Esmerardo Ibarra
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-40253

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ESMERARDO IBARRA,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Texas

USDC No. 7:13-CR-1646

Before REAVLEY, SMITH, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Esmerardo Ibarra appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea 

conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms 

or more of marijuana. As he did below, Ibarra argues that the district court 

erred when imposing a three-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) for 

acting as a manager or supervisor over the offense. Ibarra asserts that he 

worked under the direction of his brother, Jose Ibarra, and was given specific 

 

* 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 5, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 15-40253 Document: 00513370733 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/05/2016
No. 15-40253

2

tasks to do. We review the determination that a defendant is a manager or 

supervisor under § 3B1.1(b) for clear error. United States v. Rodriguez-Lopez, 

756 F.3d 422, 435 (5th Cir. 2014).

A defendant’s base offense level may be increased by three levels if the 

defendant was a manager or supervisor, rather than a leader or organizer, “and 

the criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise 

extensive.” § 3B1.1(b). When determining whether this enhancement applies, 

we consider “the defendant’s participation in planning, recruitment of 

accomplices, and exercise of control and authority over others.” RodriguezLopez, 756 F.3d at 435 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also 

United States v. Reagan, 725 F.3d 471, 494 (5th Cir. 2013) (finding no clear 

error in assessing the enhancement where the defendant “had planned and 

coordinated the structure of the conspiracy’s takings[,] . . . had recruited 

[a participant] into the conspiracy, and had exercised control and authority 

over others on a number of occasions”).

Ibarra has not demonstrated that the district court clearly erred when 

imposing the three-level enhancement. There was evidence that Ibarra was 

involved in planning the offense, helped recruit accomplices, and exercised 

some control and authority over other participants. See Rodriguez-Lopez, 756 

F.3d at 435; Reagan, 725 F.3d at 494. Ibarra was present and actively involved

when the operation was being planned or negotiated, routinely maintained 

contact with other participants, supplied money, and was involved in the 

transport of several individuals to the warehouse where they were to load 

marijuana onto a truck.

AFFIRMED.

 Case: 15-40253 Document: 00513370733 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/05/2016