### IN THE UNI TED STAT ES COURT OFAPPEALS FOR THE FIF TH CIRCU IT

No. 12-40201 Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. MARIA DEROSARIO MENDOZA-PADRON, Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:11-CR-1033-1

Before DAVIS, JONES and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Maria DeRosario Mendoza-Padron appeals th e s e nt e nc e imposed after her guilty plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, arguing that the district court clea rly erred in denying a mitigating role reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 because she was merely a courier; her unindicted coconspirators had a greater stake and role; she was not involved in planning or making decisions, was paid a set fee and not a share of the profits; and she did not know the amount of drugs involved. She asserts that the district court failed U n i te d S ta te s C o u rt o f A p p ea l s

F i ft h C i rc u i t 

### F I L E D Octob er 10 , 20 12 Lyle W . Cayce Clerk

Purs uant to 5 T H C IR

. R. 47.5 , the cour t has d ete rm inedt hat this op inion sho uld not * be publ ish ed and is not pr ece dent excep t unde r the lim ite d cir cum st ance s se t forth in 5 T H C IR

. R. 47.5 .4. Case: 12-40201 Document: 00512015063 Page: 1 Date Filed: 10/10/2012No. 12-40201

to analyze her culpability compared to her unindicted coconspirators and did not make sufficient individual factual findings concerning her role in the offense. Mendoza-Padron has not shown th at the district court clearly erred in denying a mitigating role reduction under § 3B1.2. The district court made specific factual findings concerning her role in the offense and determined that her role was not perip h e r a l b ut rather was central to the crime; she drove the vehicle by herself approximately 250 miles from Mission to San Antonio, Texas;

s he maneuvered the highway and the checkpoint as an innocent traveler; an d she acted as a deceptive courier. See United States v. Villanueva , 408 F.3d 193, 203-04 (5th Cir. 2005); Burton v. United States , 237 F.3d 490, 504 (5th Cir. 2000) (noting this court does not follow Ninth Circuit’s requirement that defendant’s role be comp ar e d with th at of oth e r participants). Contrary to Mendoza-Padron’s argument, this court’s review is not limited to the district court’s reasons for

over r u l i n g the objection given at sentencing; rather, this court determines whether the district court’s factual finding is “plausible in ligh t o f t h e record read as a w h o l e . ” Se e V illanueva , 408 F.3d at 203. The factual basis and the Pr e s e ntence Report established that Mendoza-Padro n a gr e e d to drive th e vehicl e for her unindicted coconspirator in exchange for $5000; she was told to drive to San Antonio, deliver the vehicle to another person who would return it to her a few hours later, and drive back to Mission, Texas; she knew drugs were hidden in the vehicle, but did not know the type or amount; she obtained an insurance pol i c y f or the vehicle in her name with cash; she drove through the Falfurrias checkpoint; although she was employed as a housekeeper, she was in possession of $1000 in cash which she could not explain; and she was entrusted with a large amount of cocaine as agents found 14 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the vehicle. Because she was held responsible for the amount of drugs hidden in the vehicle that she drove, her role was not minor, but was “coextensive with the conduct for which [she] was held accountable.” See United States v. Garcia , 242 F.3d 593, 598 (5th Cir. 2001). The district court’s finding that she w as not a minor
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participant was not clearly erroneous because it was “p l a u sible in light of the record read as a whole.” See V i llanueva , 408 F.3d at 203; Burton , 237 F.3d at 504. AFFIRMED.

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