# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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Nos . 18 -2 06 8, 1 8- 20 88 , 18 -2 09 0

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Greg or io Ram ire z-M al do na do ; Alejan dr o Ll am as -Del ga do ; Eric k P arra -Sal azar

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el la nt

s

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App eal s fr om

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t
fo r th e Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta

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Su bm it te d: Marc h 1 2, 2 01 9
Fi le d: Ju ne 26 , 20 19

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Befo re GRUENDER, BENTON, and GRASZ, Cir cu it Ju dg es

.

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GRASZ, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

Alejan dr o Llam as -Del ga do (“ Llam as ”) an d Er i ck Parr a-Sa la zar (“ Parr a”)

ap pe al th ei r co nv ic ti on s fo r dr ug tra ffi ck in g cri m es

. Parr a an d an ot he r co -d efen da nt

,Greg or io Ram ire z-M al do na do (“ R a mirez” ), ap pe al th e se nt en ces th e di st ric t co ur t 1

im po se d a fte r tr ia l. We affir m

.

I. Ba ck gr ou nd

In May 2 01 7, la w e nf

or cem en t o ffi ci al s arre st ed Llam as , R am ire z, an d Parr a

fo ll owi ng an ex te ns iv e in ve st ig at io n in to a su sp ect ed dr ug co ns pi racy to di st rib ut e

su bs ta nt ia l qu an ti ti es of m et ha m ph et am in e an d co cai ne

. Bec a u s e bo th Llam as an d

Parr a ch al le ng e th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce, m an y of th e fact s in tro du ced at tri al

reg ard in g t ha t i nv es ti ga ti on are re co un te d b el ow.

A. Facts

Fo r pu rp os es of th is cas e, th e in ve st ig at io n be ga n in 20 14 whe n th e Dru g

Enfo rcem en t Adm in is tra ti on (“ DEA”) in te rcep te d a tra ns po rt tru ck in Cal ifo rn ia th at

was ha ul in g a 20 05 Mi ni Co op er au to m ob il e. Earl ie r, Om ar Orn e l a s

- G arci a (“ Orn el as ”) an d A.L., a co nf id en ti al in fo rm an t who te st ifi ed at tri al

, ha d m et Llam as

at an au to bo dy sh op in sout hern Cal ifo rn ia th at ha d co ns tru ct ed hi dd en co m pa rtments

in th e Mi ni Co op er. A.L. la te r pi ck ed up th e Mi ni Co op er aft er Orn el as to ld hi m th at

he ha d lo ad ed it wit h 22 po un ds of m et ha m ph et am in e an d s ev en or eig ht ki lo gr am s (1 5.4 or 17 .6 p o u n ds ) of co cai ne

. A.L. m et wit h a tru ck dr iv er to lo ad th e Mi ni

Co op er on to th e tra ns po rt tru ck an d su bs eq ue nt ly se nt a te xt to Llam as to te ll hi m th e

Mi ni Co op er was on it s way

. The DEA le arn ed ab ou t th e tra ns po rt tru ck an d set up

a “ co nt ro ll ed de li ve r y” o f t he Mi ni Co op er. The DEA m et th e tru ck dr iv er at a

pa rk in g lo t in Pl y m ou th

, Mi nn es ot a, un lo ad ed th e ve hi cl e, pa rk ed it

, an d di sa bl ed it

. The tru ck dr iv er th en cal le d so m eo ne na m ed “ Osc ar,” who m he ha d be en to ld to cal l

whe n h e arr iv ed

.

The Hon or ab le Jo an N. Eric ks en , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct 1

of Mi nn es ot a.

-2

-Th e D EA en co un te red Llam as du rin g th e co nt ro ll ed de li ve ry of th e Mi n i

Co op e r. Alm os t an ho ur aft er th e tru ck dr iv er’s ph on e cal l to “ Osc ar,” Llam as an d

a wom an pu ll ed in to th e pa rk in g lo t. Llam as m et wit h th e tru ck dr iv er, pu t Cal ifo rn ia

li cen se pl at es on th e Mi ni Co op er, an d un su cces sf ul ly tri ed to s t a r t i t

. Llam as

ev en tu al ly ret ur ne d wit h se ve ral ot he r pe op le an d a to w tru ck

. The y lo ad ed th e Mi ni

Co op er on th e to w tru ck an d de pa rte d. The DEA di d no t arre st an y on e bu t ha d lo cal

po li ce s ei ze t he Mi ni Co op er fro m th e to w tru ck

.

I n S e p t e mber 20 15

, th e DEA ag ai n sa w Llam as whe n ag en ts were at t h e

Alb ert vi ll e Ou t l e t M al l jus t wes t of th e Twin Ci ti es

. Llam as sa t on a pa rk be nc h

ho ld in g t wo ce ll ph on es . A sho rt t im e la te r, Eric W in te r dr ov e in to th e p ark in g l ot

. Llam as walk ed di rect ly to W in te r’s ve hi cl e an d go t in to th e fro nt pa ss en ge r se at

. A

fe w minu te s la te r, Llam as go t ou t of th e ve hi cl e, walk ed to hi s own ve hi cl e, an d

dr ov e of f. Po li ce offi cers st op pe d Llam as an d W in te r. The of fic ers fo un d abo ut an

ou nc e of m et ha m

ph et am in e in th e cen te r co ns ol e of W in te r’s ve hi cl e an d $1 ,88 0 cas h

on Llam as

. The reco rd in di cat es th ey arre st ed Llam as bu t do es no t in di cat e whe th er

an y fur th er p ro ceed in gs oc cu rred

.

In Ja nu ary 20 17

, po li ce of fic ers be ga n e x t e ns iv e su rv ei ll an ce th at in cl ud ed

watc hi ng two ho us es li nk ed to Llam as

. The se ho us es were a la rg e, si ng le -fam il y

ho m e on Bel lv ue Lan e in Bro ok lyn Cen te r (th e “ Bel lv ue Hou s e ” ) a n d a sm al l

ram bl er-s tyle h om e o n Du po nt Aven ue in Mi nn eap ol is (th e “ Dup on t Hou se ”). The

of fic ers al so id en ti fie d se ve ral ve hi cl es li nk ed t o Ll a mas , in cl ud in g a Ch ev ro le t

Si lv erad o a nd a GMC Si erra . Betwe en Jan ua ry an d M ay 20 17 , Llam as oft en dro ve

be twee n th e two ho u s e s. Llam as wou ld m eet wit h va rio us pe op le an d en ga ge in

“ sh or t te rm tra ffi c,” on ly st ay in g at res id en ces fo r a sh or t ti m e. The of fic ers te st ifi ed

Llam as wou ld tra ve l to lo cat io ns us in g no n- di rect ro ut es an d si de st reet s an d wou ld

ci r c l e a ro un d th e bl oc k in a m an ne r co ns is te nt wit h on e co nd uc ti ng co un te rsu rv ei ll an ce. The y di d no t ob s e r ve Llam as en ga ge in an y co nv en ti on al wor k

act iv it ie s.

-3

-I n F e b r ua ry 20 17

, po li ce of fic ers en co un te red Llam as an d Ram ire z whe n

tra ck in g a cel l ph on e th at Llam as ha s prev io us ly co nt act ed

. The of fic ers ha d set up

su rv ei ll an ce at a tra ve l pl aza ne ar Alb ert Lea, Mi nn e s ot a. The y sp ot te d Ram ire z

dr iv in g a Hon da reg is te red to Ja cq ue li ne Myra Mac hu ca-Ar an a (“ Mac hu ca”) wit h a

pa ss en ge r th ey la te r id en ti fie d as Mac hu ca. The of fic ers fo ll owe d th e ve hi cl e to th e Dup on t H o u s e. Llam as arri ve d an d m et wit h Mac hu ca an d Ram ire z. Mac hu ca

ret ur ne d to th e Hon da an d d r o v e in to th e ga rag e. So on aft er, Llam as le ft th e

res id en ce carr y in g a du ffl e b a g an d he ad ed to ward th e ga rag e. Llam as th en dr ov e

away in an ot he r ve hi cl e, whi le Ram ire z an d Mac hu ca dr ov e of f in Llam as ’s

Ch ev ro le t. Ram ire z an d Mac hu ca ret ur ne d to th e Dup on t Hou se la te r th at ni gh t. The

ne xt ev en in g, th e o f

f i cers lo cat ed Ram ire z an d Mac hu ca ou t dr iv in g th e Hon da

,
st op pe d th e car, and se iz ed $2 0,0 00 in cas h from a m od ifi ed st or ag e area in th e rear

se at

.

In Mar ch 20 17

, po li ce of fic ers rece iv ed in fo rm at io n fr o m i n ve st ig at or s in

Cal ifo rn ia th at Llam as wou ld be m eet in g wit h a m on ey co ur ie r. The of fic ers tra ck ed

Llam as an d an un kn own m al e to a ho te l ne ar th e Mal l of Am eri ca in Mi nn es ot a.

The y a l s o n ot ed a car pa rk ed at th e ho te l: a Hon da Odysse y wit h Cal ifo rn ia pl at es

reg is te red to Hub ert Cu ev as

. Cu ev as an d Llam as ta lk ed 28 ti m es by ph on e th at da y

. Two da y s la te r, of

fic ers st op pe d Cu e v a s in th e Hon da Odysse y in Cal ifo rn ia an d

se iz ed $5 3,0 00 in cas h fr om a hi dd en co m

pa rtment i n h is ve hi cl e.

In Apr il 20 17

, po li ce of

fic ers le arn ed ab ou t a cal l be twee n Llam as an d Orn el as , who th ey su sp ect ed was a dr ug as so ci at e of Llam as

. Dur in g t h e cal l, Orn el as us ed

co de d la ng ua ge in te rp ret e d by po li ce of fic ers to m ean su pp li ers in Mex ic o ha d

st op pe d se nd in g dr ug s be cau se th e su pp li ers ha d no t be en pa id

. Orn el as an d Llam as

di sc us se d a pl an fo r Llam as to pr ov id e m on ey to a co ur ie r in Mi nn es ot a to se tt le th e

de bt

. Dur in g a la te r cal l, Orn el as to ld Llam as th e co ur ie r was in th e area , an d Llam as

ag reed to m eet th e co ur ie r.

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-Tha t sa m e aft ern oo n, po li ce of fic er s in te rcep te d th ree ph on e cal ls an d so m e

te xt m es sa ge s be twee n Llam as an d Is hm ael Torr eci ll as , th e c o u r i e r

. The two m en

ag reed to m eet at th e Mal l of Am eri ca. Llam as le ft th e B e l l v u e Hou se in th e

Ch ev ro le t. W he n Llam as arri ve d, Torr eci l l a s an d hi s gi rlf rie nd go t in to Llam as ’s

ve hi cl e. The o ffi cers di d n ot fol lo w Llam as aft er t ha t m eet in g.

In May 20 17

, a po le cam era at th e Dup on t Hou se reco rd ed Parr a an d Ram ire z

arri vi ng in Ram ire z’s Cad il la c Esca la de

. Llam as m et Parr a an d Ram ire z th ere. Parr a

an d Ram ire z th en dro ve th e Cad il la c to th e Bel lv ue Hou se , and Llam as fol lo wed in

a se pa rat e ve hi cl e. Parr a dr ov e th e Cad il la c in to th e Bel lv u e ga rag e an d th e do or

cl os ed

. Abo ut twen ty m in ut es la te r, Parr a ba ck ed th e Ca d i l la c ou t, an d he an d

Ram ire z ret ur ne d to th e Dup on t h o u s e

. R a mirez la te r to ld po li ce two ki lo gr am s of

co cai ne ha d b een co nc eal ed be hi nd th e h ead li gh ts of t he Cad il la c.

On May 15

, 20 17

, po li ce of fic ers arre st ed Llam as , Ram i r e z , an d Parr a, an d

se arch ed se ve ral lo cat io ns li nk ed to th e in ve st ig at io n. At th e Bel lv ue Hou se , po li ce

fo un d Llam as , ro ug hl y $4 3,0 00 in cas h, a cel l ph on e, ve hi cl e ke y s, an d a pe rm an en t

res id en t card wit h Llam as ’s ph ot og rap h. At th e Dup on t Ho u s e , th e of fic ers fo un d

Parr a an d Ram ire z, dr ug s, an d ex te ns iv e dr u g p arap he rn al ia

. It ap pe ared no on e

r e s i d e d a t th e ho us e, as th ere were no pi ct ur es on th e wall s, no fo od in th e

refr ig erat or , no di ni ng ut en si ls

, an d no dr y go od s in th e ki tc he n. The of fic ers se iz ed

ab ou t 13 9 gra m s of coca in e si tt in g on a to p sh el f in th e ki tc he n, ab ou t 25 2 gra m s of

co cai ne in th e ki tc he n br oi le r, 28 po un ds of m ari juan a in th e ba se m en t, a di gi ta l sc al e,

d i s po sa bl e la te x gl ov es , a ha nd gu n, fo od sa ve r ba gs , a he at -s eal in g m ach in e ,
pa ck ag in g ta pe , a m on ey co un ti ng m ach in e, an d two ki lo gr am -s iz ed wrap pe rs

. The y

al so fou nd hi dd en co m

pa rtments be hi nd th e fro nt he ad li gh ts of t he Cad il la c.

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-B. Proc edur al Hi st or y

In Ju ne 20 17

, a gr an d jury in di ct ed Llam as , Ram ire z, an d Parr a on two co un ts : (1 ) co ns pi racy to di st rib ut e 50 0 gr am s or m or e of m et ha m ph et am in e an d 50 0 gr am s

or m or e of co cai ne , in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C. §§ 84 1( a)(1 ) an d 84 6; an d
(2 ) po ss es si on wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e 50 0 gr am s or m or e of co cai ne , in vi ol at io n of

21 U.S.C. § 84 1( a)(1 ). At tri al in Decem be r 20 17

, a jury co nv ic te d al l th ree

de fen da nt s on bo th co un ts

. The jury fo un d, ho wev er, th at R a mi r e z’s an d Parr a’s

co nd uc t i nv ol ve d n o m et ha m ph et am in e an d t ha t Pa rra’s co nd uc t i nv ol ve d l es s t ha n

50 0 g ram s o f co cai ne

.

The di st ric t co ur t sen te nc ed Llam as to 30 0 m on th s of im pr is on m en t. Llam as

do es no t ch al le ng e h is sen te nc e o n a pp eal

.

The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Parr a to 41 m on th s of im pr is on m en t. The di st ric t

co ur t co nc lu de d ba se d on th e ev id en ce it he ard at tri al th at Parr a was res po ns ib le fo r

m or e th an 50 0 gr am s of dr ug s. Thu s, it cal cu la te d th e U.S. Sen te nc in g Gui de li ne s

Man ua l (“ Gui de li ne s” or “ U.S.S.G.”) r a ng e as 51 to 63 m on th s. The di st ric t co ur t

th en va rie d do wnwar d t o 4 1 mon th s. The di st ric t co ur t refe ren ced th is was th e

b o t t om of th e “ im ag in ary” Gui de li ne s ran ge th at wou ld ap pl y if th e se nt en ce were

ba se d o n l e s s t h an 50 0 gr am s of dr ug s an d ex pl ai ne d it was va ry in g do wnwar d

be cau se it th ou gh t th e ap pl ic ab le Gui de li ne s ran ge was “ m or e th an is ne ces sa ry ” fo r

Parr a.

The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Ram ire z to a bo tt om -o f-t he -Gu id el in es se nt en ce

o f 6 3 m on th s of im

pr is on m en t. Ram ire z arg ue d fo r ap pl ic at io n of th e sa fet y va l v e

pr ov is io n an d a red uc ti on in hi s se nt en ce ba se d on U.S.S.G. § 3B 1.2 be cau se he ha d

on ly a m in or ro le in th e co ns pi racy. The di st ric t co ur t reject ed th e arg um en t. It no te d

th at Ram ire z recr ui te d Parr a to joi n th e co ns pi racy. The di st ric t co ur t th en de te rm in ed

-6

-6 3 m on th s was ap pr op ria te be cau se of Ram ire z’s im m ig rat io n st at us , hi s fam il y

si tu at io n, an d b ecau se th e Gov ern m en t d id no t as k fo r m or e.

All th ree d efen da nt s t im el y ap pe al ed

.

II . Anal ys is

Bec au se Llam as an d Parr a ch al le ng e th e su ffi ci en cy of th e e v i d e n c e, we

ad dr es s th e ev id en ce at tri al fo r th os e t w o d e f e nd an ts be fo re ad dr es si ng th e two

se nt en ci ng is su es

.

A. Suffi ci ency of t he Ev id ence

“ W e rev ie w de n o vo th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce to su st ai n a co nv ic ti on , vi ewin g th e ev id en ce in a li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e ve rd ic t an d acce pt in g al l

reas on ab le in fere nc es su pp or ti ng th e ve rd ic t.” Uni te d St at es v. Co lt on , 74 2 F.3 d 34 5,

34 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ). Thi s is a st ric t st an da rd of rev ie w, an d we wil l ov ert ur n a

co nv ic ti on “ on ly if no reas on ab le jury co ul d ha ve fo un d [the de fen da nt ] gu il ty be y on d

a reas on ab le do ub t.” Id

. (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Bell , 47 7 F .3d 60 7, 6 13 (8 th Ci r.

20 07 )). “ It is well -es ta bl is he d th at ‘the un co rro bo rat ed te st im on y of a n acco m

pl ic e

is su ffi ci en t to su st ai n a co nv ic ti on if th e te st im on y is no t o t h erwi se in cred ib le or

un su bs ta nt ia l on it s fa ce.’” Uni te d S ta te s v. Vau gh n , 41 0 F.3d 10 02

, 10 04 (8 th Ci r.

20 05 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d S ta te s v. Du nn , 49 4 F .2d 12 80 , 12 81 –8 2 (8 th Cir . 19 74 )).

To es ta bl is h a de fen da nt ’s m em be rs hi p in a co ns pi racy, th e Gov ern m en t ne ed s

to pr ov e “ (1 ) th e ex is te nc e of an ag reem en t am on g two or m or e pe op le to ach ie ve an

il le ga l pu r p o s e, (2 ) th e de fen da nt ’s kn owl ed ge of th e ag reem en t, an d (3 ) th at th e

de fen da nt kn o w i n g l y jo in ed an d pa rti ci pa te d in th e ag reem en t.” Uni te d St at es v.

Peeb le s , 88 3 F.3 d 10 62

, 10 67 –6 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 18 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. W hi rl wi nd

So ld ie r , 4 99 F.3 d 86 2, 86 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 )). To e s t a b l i s h a de fen da nt ’s p os se ss io n

-7

-of il le ga l dr u g s w i t h th e in te nt to di st rib ut e, th e Gov ern m en t ne ed s to pr ov e th e

de fen da nt (1 ) kn owi ng ly po ss es se d th e dr ug in qu es ti on an d (2 ) in te nd ed to di st rib ut e

it

. Se e id

. at 10 68

.

The ev id en ce of Llam as ’s gu il t was ov erwh el m in g. Fi rs t, Llam as pa rti ci pa te d

in us in g a m od ifi ed Mi ni Co op er t o t r an sp or t dr ug s. Llam as pr ot es ts th at ev id en ce

of hi s ro le was pr im ari ly ba se d on th e c o n fid en ti al in fo rm an t’s te st im on y , bu t hi s

pa rti ci pa ti on in pi ck in g up th e Mi ni Co op er co n fir m s hi s ro le in th at tra ns act io n.

Seco nd

, po li ce offi cers ’ su rv ei ll an ce of th e ou tl et m al l and su bs eq ue nt di sc ov ery of

dr ug s wit h W in te r co ul d al lo w a reas on ab le jury to in fer th at Ll a mas so ld dr ug s to

W in te r. Thi rd

, Llam as was rep eat ed ly pr es en t at th e Dup o n t Hou se whe re po li ce

o ffi cers fo un d dr ug s (an d no ev id en ce an y on e li ve d th ere)

. W hi le th is i s n o t a n

ex ha us ti ve reco ll ect io n of th e ev id en ce ag ai ns t Llam as , th is ev id en ce al on e pr ev en ts

an y reas on ab le arg um en t t ha t t he ev id en ce was in su ffi ci en t t o c on vi ct Llam as

.

The ev id en ce of Parr a’s ro le in th e co ns pi racy to d i s tri bu te dr ug s was al so

su ffi ci en t. F i r st

, ci rcu m st an ti al ev id en ce in di cat ed Parr a he lp ed Ram ire z tra ns po rt

two ki lo gr am s of co cai ne an d di st rib ut e it to Llam as fo r fu rth er di st rib ut io n. Seco nd

,
po li ce of fic er s fo un d Parr a at th e Hou se wit h dr ug s an d ot he r dr ug pa rap he rn al ia

. Thi s ev id en ce, ta ke n in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e ve rd ic t, su pp or ts th e reas on ab le

co nc lu si on Parr a ha d a ro le in th e dr ug co ns pi racy an d p o s s e s s e d d r ug s wit h in te nt

to di st rib ut e th em . Thu s, am pl e ev id en ce s up po rts Parra ’s con vi ct io n.

B. Parr a’ s Dru g Q ua nti ty at S ente nci ng

Parr a arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d p r o c ed ur al erro r in cal cu la ti ng hi s

Gui de li ne s ran ge by ho ld in g hi m acco un ta bl e fo r m or e co cai ne th a n fo un d by th e jury. W e rev ie w d e no vo th e le ga l qu es ti on of whet he r th e d is tri ct co ur t co ul d fi nd

a hi gh er qu an ti ty of dr ug s th an th e jury fo un d. Se e Uni te d St at es v. W eb b

, 54 5 F.3 d

67 3, 67 6– 77 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). Th i s c o u r t ha s he ld “ a di st ric t co ur t m ay im po se a

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-se nt en ce b as ed on a dr ug qu an ti ty det erm in at io n g reat er t ha n t ha t fou nd by the jury

so lo ng as th e se nt en ce do es no t ex ceed th e st at ut or y m ax im um of th e co nv ic te d

of fen se an d th e di st ric t cou rt’s calc ul at io n i s s up po rte d by su ffi ci en t evi de nc e.” Id

.
at 67 7. Parr a tri es to di st in gu is h W eb b on th e gr ou nd it in vo lv ed a jury fin di ng wit h

on ly on e op ti on fo r dr ug qu an ti ty rat he r th an a fin di ng am on g m ul ti pl e op ti on s. Tha t

di st in ct io n in th e jury fo rm do es no t ev ad e W eb b ’s co re ho ld in g th at a di st ric t co ur t’s

se nt en ci ng fin di ng m ay ex ceed th e jury’ s fin di ng on dr ug qu an ti ty. The di st ric t co ur t

di d n ot err i n fo ll owi ng ou r pr eced en t.

W e al so se e no in di cat io n th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d a cl ear erro r in

cal cu la ti ng th e dr ug qu an ti ty on th e ev id en ce pr es en te d. The cal cu la ti on is a fact ua l

de te rm in at io n rev ie wed fo r cl ear erro r. Id

. Po li ce of fic ers se iz ed ov er 44 5 gr am s of

co cai ne an d two ki l o gr am -s iz ed wrap pe rs fro m th e st as h ho us e whe re Parr a was

st ay in g. Ram ire z al so to ld po li ce of fic ers Par r a h e l p e d tra ns po rt two ki lo gr am s of

co cai ne fro m Tex as to Mi nn es ot a. Thi s ev id en ce is su ffi ci en t un de r a pr ep on de ran ce

of th e ev id en ce st an da rd

. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Ebe rs pr ac he r , 93 6 F.2 d 38 7, 38 9 (8 th

Ci r. 19 91 ) (aff

irming at tri bu ti ng fo ur ki lo gr am s of co cai ne to a de fen da nt ba se d o n

fin di ng fou r ki lo gr am

wrap pe rs at h is bu si ne ss ).

C. Ram ir ez’s Rol e in the Of fens e

Ram ire z ch al le ng es th e di st ric t cou rt’s det erm in at io n th at he was no t en ti tl ed

to a m in or ro le red uc ti on un de r U.S.S.G. § 3B 1.2 (b ). Thi s i s a l s o a fact ua l

de te rm in at io n t ha t i s re vi ewed for cl ear erro r. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Ca rt ag en a , 85 6

F.3 d 11 93

, 11 96 (8 th Ci r. 20 17 ). The Gui de li ne s di rect di st ric t co ur ts to de crea se th e

of fen se le ve l by two le ve ls “ [i]f th e de fen da nt was a m in or pa rti ci pa nt in an y cri m in al

act iv it y .” U.S.S.G. § 3B 1.2 (b ). Thi s co ur t ha s rece nt ly ex pl ai ne d “ th is de du ct io n is

av ai la bl e whe re th e de fen da nt ’s ro le ‘m ak es hi m su bs ta nt ia ll y le ss cu lp ab le th an th e

av erag e pa rti ci pa nt in th e cri m in al act i v i t y.’” Uni te d St at es v. Sh ar key

, 89 5 F.3 d

10 77

, 10 81 (8 th Ci r. 20 18 ) (q uo ti ng U.S.S.G. § 3B 1.2 cm t. n.3 ). It is th e de fen da nt ’s

-9

-bu rd en to est ab li sh bo th th at “ he or s he is [a] m in or pa rti ci pa nt by com pa ris on wit h

ot he r pa rti ci pa nt s an d by co m pa ris on w i t h t h e o ffen se fo r whi ch he or sh e is

acco un ta bl e.” Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Bra dl ey , 64 3 F.3 d

11 21

, 11 29 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 )). “ [T]his co ur t ha s co ns is te nt ly reject ed th e arg um en t th at

a di st rib ut or of co nt ro ll ed su bs ta nc es de se rv es a m in or -ro le red uc ti on si m pl y be cau se

of th e p res en ce o f a l arg er-s cal e u ps tre am di st rib ut or .” Id

. (qu ot in g s am e).

The di st ric t co ur t’s de ci si on to de ny a m in or -ro le red uc ti on to Ram ire z was

co ns is te nt wit h th e ev id en ce. The jury he ard ev id en ce th at Ram ire z was in vo lv ed in

th e co ns pi racy fo r at le as t th ree m on th s an d de li ve red dr ug s to Llam as on at le as t on e

if no t two oc cas io ns

. We h a v e r e p eat ed ly fo un d no cl ear erro r in th e de ni al of a

m in or -ro le red uc ti on on si m il ar fact s

. S e e
, e.g

. , Uni te d St at es v. Alma za n , 55 2 F.
App ’x 61 0, 61 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (u np ub li sh ed ) (fi nd in g no cl ear erro r whe re de fen da nt

ad m it te d kn owl ed ge of tra ns po rti ng hi dd en co cai ne in th e ve hi cl e he was dr iv in g an d

rece iv ed $1 ,00 0 fo r tra ns po rti ng th e co cai ne ); Uni te d St at e s v

. Pru ne da

, 51 8 F.3 d

59 7, 60 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ) ( fin di ng no cl ear erro r whe re de fen da nt was m erel y a

co ur ie r); Uni te d St at es v. O’Del l

, 20 4 F.3 d 82 9, 83 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 00 ) (fi nd in g no cl ear

erro r whe re de fen da nt was le ss c u l p a bl e th an co -d efen da nt s bu t he lp ed tra ns po rt

dr ug s s ev eral ti m es ). W e se e n o d is ti ng ui sh in g re as on to fin d c le ar er ro r he re.

II I. Co ncl us io n

Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we af fir m th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

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