# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -3 0 40

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Un i t ed St at es o f Am eri ca

l ll l l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l Pl a i n t i

f f - Ap pel l ee

v

.

J o s e Al on s o Garci a

l ll l l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l Def

en da n t - Ap pel l an t

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ap peal s fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di st ri ct Co u rt

fo r t h e W es t ern Di s t ri ct o f Ark an sas - Ft . Sm i t h

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su bm i t t ed : Sep tem

ber 2 6, 2 0 19

Fi l ed : Decem

b er 2 6 , 2 0 1 9

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re GRUENDER, BENTON, an d SHEPHERD, Ci rcu i t J u d ges

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

SHEPHERD, Ci rcu i t J u dg e.

Ap p el l an t J o se Garci a en t ered a co n d it i on al g u il t y p l ea t o o n e co un t o f ai d i n g

an d ab et t i n g t h e di s tri b u ti o n o f fi v e g ram s o r m o re o f m et ham p h et am i n e, i n vi o l at i o n

o f 2 1 U

. S

. C

. § § 8 4 1 (a)(1 ), (b )(1 )(B)(v ii i ) an d 1 8 U.S.C. § 2

, rel at ed t o h is ro l e i n am et h am

p h et am i ne di s tri b u ti o n s ch em e i n No rt h we s t Ark an sas

. Th e d i st ri ct co u rt 1

s en t en ced Garci a t o 18 8 m on t h s i m p ri s o nm e nt

. Garci a ap peal s

, as s ert i n g t h at t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt erred b y d en y i n g G a r c i a ’s m o t i on fo r ret es t i ng of dru g q u al i t y an d

q u an ti t y an d ap p ro v al o f ex p en d i t u res

, as wel l as i n i m p o s i n g h i s sen t en ce. Gar c i a

as s ert s t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt erro neo u s l y s en t en ced h im as a care e r o f fen d er, fai l ed to

ap p ly a m i n i m al ro l e or m i n o r p art i ci pan t red u ct i o n, an d im p o s ed a s en t en ce t h at was

s u b s t an t i vel y u n reas on ab l e. Hav i n g ju ri s d i ct i o n u n d er 2 8 U.S.C. § 1 2 9 1

, we affi rm

.

I.

Fo l l o w i n g h i s in v o l v em en t i n a m et h am p h et am in e d i s t ri b ut io n s ch em e,

i n cl u d i n g part i ci p at i o n i n a co n t ro l l ed b u y wi t h u n d erco v er o ffi cers

, G arci a was

i n d i ct ed o n o ne co u n t o f co n s p i racy t o d i s t ri b u te m et h am p h et am in e an d o n e co u n t o f

ai d i n g an d ab et t in g d i st ri b u t i o n o f fi v e g ram s o r m o re o f m et h am p h et am in e. Garci a

ch al l en g ed th e res u l t s o f t h e g o v e r n m en t ’ s s ub s eq u en t t es t i n g of t he s ei zed

m et h am p h et am i ne, s eek i n g b o t h ret es t i n g o f t h e d ru g q u al i ty an d q u an t i ty an d t h e

ap p ro v al o f ex pen d i t ures fo r t h es e p u rp o s es

. Garci a’ s co -d efen d an t

, J o s e Es cal an t e,

fi led a s i m i l ar m o t i o n s eek i n g ret e s t i n g

. Th e d i st ri ct co u rt d en i ed b o t h m o t i o n s

,

co n cl u d in g t h at n o rea s o n a b l e b as i s ex i s t ed t o q u es t i o n t h e res ul t s o f t h e

g o v ern m en t ’ s t es t i n g

. T h e o n ly reas on o ffered i n th e m o t i o n s fo r ret es t i n g was a

s t at em en t o f t h e su b

ject i v e b el ief o f t h e d efen d an t s t h at t he d ru g q u al i t y an d q u an t i t y

was i nco rrect an d a v ag u e referen ce t o Es cal an te’ s as s ert i o n i n a p ri o r h eari n g t h at

,

as a m et h am

ph et a m i n e u s er wh o had tri ed t h e m et h am p h et am i n e, h e co u l d t el l t h at

i t w as n o t as p u re as t h e g o vern m en t ’ s t es ti n g rev eal ed

.

Aft er t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt d en i ed h i s m o t i o n f o r ret es t i ng an d ap p ro v al o f

ex p en d i tu res

, Ga r c i a e n t e red a g u i l t y p l ea to t he ai d in g an d ab et t i n g co u n t

, wh i ch

1 Th e Ho n o rab l e P.K. Ho l m es

, III, Un i t ed St at es Di st ri ct J u d g e fo r t he W es t ern

Di s t ri ct o f Ark an sas

.

-2

-s t e m m ed fro m o ne co n t ro l l ed b u y wi t h u n d erco v er o ffi cers

. At s en t en ci n g

, t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt d et erm i n e d t h at t h e career o ffen d er s en t en ci n g en h an cem en t ap p l i ed

b as ed on Garci a’ s p rev i o u s co n v i ct i o n s

, un d er Ark an s as l aw, fo r ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g

t h e d i st ri bu t io n o f m et h am p h et am i ne an d fo r b ei n g an acco m p l i ce t o s eco n d-d eg ree

b at t ery

. Th e d is t ri ct co u rt al s o d et erm i n ed t h at Garci a was n ot en t it l ed to a m i n i m al

ro l e o r m i n o r p art i ci p an t red u ct i o n an d cal cu l at ed Garci a’ s Gu i d el i n es ran g e at 1 8 8

t o 2 3 5 m o nt hs i m

p ri s on m en t

. T h e d is t ri ct co urt t h en im p o s ed a b ot t o m -o f-t h eGu i del in es -ran g e s en t en ce o f 1 8 8 m o nt h s. Th i s ap p eal fo l lo ws

.

II.

A.

Garci a fi rs t as sert s t h at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt erro n eo u s l y d en i ed hi s m o t i o n fo r

ret es ti n g o f d ru g q u al i ty an d q u an t i t y an d fo r ap p ro v a l o f ex p en d i t ures b ecau s e t h e

p u ri t y o f t h e d ru g s was i n q ues t i o n an d t h e d i s t ri c t c o u r t

, at t he very leas t

, s h o u ld

h av e co n du ct ed an ex p art e heari n g o n t h e m o t i o n

. Fo r t h e reas o ns w e s et fo rt h t o d ay

i n Un i ted St at es v

. Es cal an te, N o

. 1 8 -3 0 3 3

, we co n cl u de t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt d i d n ot

ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h i s m o t i o n

.

B.

Garci a n ex t ch al l en g es th e di s tri ct co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e career o ffen d er

en h an cem en t an d t h e d en i al o f a m in o r p art i ci pan t or m i n im al ro l e red u ct i o n in

cal cu l at in g t h e o ffen s e l ev el

. As t o t h e c a r e er offen d er d es i g nat i o n

, Garci a arg u es

t h at h i s p rev i o u s co n v i ct io n fo r ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g d is t ri b u t i o n o f m et h am p h et am i n e

i s n o t a co n t ro ll ed s u bs t an ce o ffen s e an d t h at h i s p rev i o u s co n vi ct i o n fo r acco m p l i ce

t o s eco n d -d eg ree b at t ery i s no t a cri m e o f v io l en ce s o as t o t ri g g er ap pl i cat io n o f t h e

career o ffen de r s e n t e n ci ng en h an cem en t

. “ W e rev iew d e n o v o a di s t ri ct co urt ’ s

-3

-i n t erp ret at io n an d ap pl icat i o n o f t h e g u i d el in es .” Un it ed St at es v

. Ri ce, 8 1 3 F.3 d 7 0 4,

7 0 5 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 16 ).

Un d er t h e Un i t ed St at es Sen t en ci n g G u i d el i n es § 4 B1 .1

, a d efen d an t i s s u b ject

t o a s en t en ci n g en han cem en t as a career offen d er i f h e h as at l eas t t wo p r e v i ou s

fel o n y co n v ict i o n s fo r ei t h er a cri m e o f vi o len ce o r a co n tro l led s u b s t an ce o ffen s e.

Garci a as s ert s t h at h i s p rev i o u s ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g di s t ri b u ti o n o f m et h am p h et am i n e

co n vi ct i o n i s n o t a co nt ro l l ed s ub s t an ce o ffen se b ecau s e t h e Gu id el i n es d efi n i t i o n o f

co n tro l l ed s u b s tan ce o ffen s e i n cl u d es o nl y t h e p ri m ary o ffen s e, n ot ai d i n g an d

ab et t in g t h e o ffen se. Garci a as s ert s t h at cl as s i f y i n g h i s pri o r co n v i ct i o n as a

co n tro l l ed s u b s t an ce o ffen s e req u i res im p erm i s si b l e rel i an ce o n Gu i d el i n es

co m m en t ary t o ex p an d t he d efi n i t i o n . Th i s arg u m en t i s u n p ers u as i v e.

Sect io n 4 B1 .2 d efi nes co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce o ffen s e wi t h o u t referen ce t o an

ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g t h eo ry o f l i ab i l i t y

. Bu t No te 1 i n t h e c o m m e n t a r y t o § 4 B1

. 2

ex p res s l y s t at es t h at th e t erm s “ ‘ [ c ]r i m e o f v io l en ce’ an d ‘ co n t ro l l ed su b s t an ce

o ffen s e’ i n cl u d e t h e o ffen s es o f ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g

, co n s p i ri n g

, a n d at t em p t i n g to

co m m i t s u ch o ffen s e.” USSG § 4 B1 .2 cm t

. n

. 1

. Des p i t e Garci a’ s as sert i o n t h at t h i s

co m m en t ary l an g u ag e can n ot b e u s ed t o ex pan d t he d efi n i t i o n i n t h e t ex t o f § 4 B1 .2

,

o u r co urt h as p rev io u s l y reco g n i z e d t h a t th i s co m m en t ary “ i s a reas o n ab l e

i n t e r p r e t at i o n o f t h e career o ffen d er g u i d el in es t h at i s wel l w i t hi n t he Sen t en ci n g

Co m m ission’ s st at u t o ry au t h o ri t y .” Un it ed St at es v

. M en d oza-Fi gu ero a, 65 F.3 d 6 9 1,

6 9 4 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 5 ) (en b an c) (“ Becau s e [USSG § 4 B1 .2 cm t

. n.1 ] i n terp ret s § 4 B1

. 2

as i n cl u d i n g d ru g co n s p i raci es

, t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt p ro p erl y d et erm i ned t h at M en d o zaFi g u ero a s h ou l d b e s en t en ced as a career o ffen d er.”); s ee al s o Un i t ed St at es v.

W al t erm an

, 3 4 3 F.3 d 9 3 8

, 9 4 1 n .3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 3 ) ( “ S e n t en ci n g g u i d el i n e

co m m en t ary is au t h o ri t at i ve u n l es s i t v i ol at es t h e Co n s t i t u ti o n o r i s in co n si s t en t wi th

fed eral l aw.”). Gi v en t h e fo reg o i n g

, t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt d i d n o t err i n co n s i d eri n g

G a r c i a ’ s prev i o u s co n v i ct i o n fo r ai d i n g an d ab et ting distr ibution of m e tha m phe ta m ine

-4

-as a co n t ro l l ed s u b st an ce o ffen s e fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f t h e career o ffen der s en t en ci n g

en h an cem en t

.

G a r c i a al s o as s ert s th at h i s co n v ict i o n as an acco m p l i ce t o s eco nd -d eg r e e

b at t ery u n d er Ark an s as l aw can n o t q u al i fy as a cri m e of vi o l en ce fo r th e p u rp o s es o f

t h e career offen d er en h an cem en t b ecau s e i t d o es n o t h av e as an el em en t “ t h e u s e,

at t em p t ed u s e, o r t hreat en ed u s e o f p h y s i cal fo rce,” as req u i red b y USSG § 4 B1 .2 (a)’ s

fo rce cl au s e. Garci a was p rev io u s l y co n v i ct ed o f on e co u n t o f b ei n g an acco m p l i ce

t o s eco n d -d eg ree b at t ery i n vi o l at i o n o f Ark

. Co d e A n n

. § 5 -1 3 -2 0 2 (a). W e h av e

p rev i o u s l y h el d t h a t Ark

. Co d e An n

. § 5-1 3 -2 02 (a) i s n o t cat eg o ri cal l y a cri m e o f

v i o l en ce, Un i t ed St at es v

. D awn

, 6 8 5 F.3 d 7 90

, 7 9 5 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 )

, an d t h at t h e

s t at u te is d i v i s i b l e, n eces s i t at in g ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e m o di fi ed cat eg o ri cal ap p ro ach to

d et erm i n e wh et h er a co n v i ct io n u n d er t h is s t at u t e i s a cri m e o f v i o l en ce. Ri ce, 8 1 3

F.3 d at 7 0 5. “ Un d er t h a t ap p ro ach

, th e co urt m ay l oo k at cert ai n d o cu m en ts to

d et erm i n e fo r wh i ch cri m e t he d efen d an t act u al l y p l ead ed g u i lt y

. W e t h en d et erm i n e

wh et h er v i o l en t fo rce was a n eces s ary el em en t of t h at cri m e.” Kel ly v

. Un i t ed St at es

,

8 1 9 F.3 d 1 0 44

, 1 0 4 8 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ).

Th e fel on y i n fo rm at i o n u n derl y i n g Garci a’ s s t at e co n v i ct i on i n cl u d es t h e

f o l l o w i n g rel ev an t l an g u ag e, al l eg i n g t h at “ wi t h t h e p u rp os e o f cau s i n g p h y s i ca l

i n ju ry t o an o t her p ers on

, [t h e d efen d an t s ] cau s ed s eri o u s p h y si cal i nju ry to an y p ers o n

. . . [b y ] s t r[i k i n g ] an d k i ck [i n g ] an o t her cau s i n g a fract u red o rb i t al s o ck et an d p al l et .”

Th i s l an g u ag e t r a c k s t h e es s en t i al l an g u ag e of Ark

. Co de A n n

. § 5 -1 3-2 0 2 (a)(1 ),

wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at : “ A p ers o n co m m i t s b at tery i n t h e s eco n d deg ree i f

. . . [w] i t h t h e

p u rp os e o f cau s i n g ph y s i cal i n ju ry t o an ot h e r p ers o n

, t h e p ers o n cau s es s eri ou s

p h y s i cal i n

ju ry t o an o t h e r p e r s o n .” W e are s at i s fi ed t h at t h e reco rd of co n v i ct i o n

d em o n s t rat es Garci a was co n v i ct ed fo r a v i o l at i on o f Ark

. C o d e An n

. § 5 -1 3

-

2 0 2 (a)(1 ), wh i ch i n cl u d es as an el em en t t h e us e o f p hy si cal fo rce, i

. e., “ fo rce cap ab l e

o f cau s in g p h y si cal p ai n o r i n ju ry t o an o t h er p ers o n .” Jo h n s o n v. U n i t ed St at es

, 5 5 9

U.S. 1 3 3

, 1 4 0 (2 0 1 0 ).

-5

-G a rci a fi n al l y as s ert s t h at h i s co n v ict i o n fo r b ei ng an acco m p l ice t o s eco n d

d eg ree b at t ery i s n o t a cri m e o f v i ol en ce b ecau s e acco m p l i ce l i ab i l i t y is n o t i n cl u d ed

i n § 4 B1 .2 ’ s defi n i t i o n o f cri m e o f v i ol en ce, n eces s i t at i n g rel i an ce o n t h e co m m en t ary

No t e 1 t o en co m

p as s acco m

p l i ce li ab i l i t y wi t h i n § 4B1 .2 . Fo r t h e s am e reas o n s we

reject t h i s arg u m en t wi t h res p ect t o h is s t at e co n t ro l l ed s u bs t an ce co n vi ct i o n

, we

reject t h i s arg u m en t wi t h res p ect t o Gar c i a ’s s t a t e bat t ery co n vi ct i o n

. Th e d i s t ri ct

co u rt d id n ot err i n fi n d in g Garci a’ s p ri or co n vi ct i o n fo r acco m p l ice t o s eco n d-d eg ree

b at t ery to b e a cri m e o f v i o l en ce fo r t h e p u rp o ses o f t h e career o ffen d er en h an cem en t

.

C.

Garci a n ex t arg u es t h at t he d i s t ri ct co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o award h i m a m i n o r

p art i ci p an t o r m i ni m al ro l e offen s e l ev el red u ct i o n i n cal cu lat i n g h i s Gu i d el i n es

s en t en ci n g ran g e, arg u in g t h at t h e ev i d en ce dem on s t rat ed th at G arci a w a s l es s

cu l p ab l e t han hi s co -d efen d an t

, E s cal an t e, wh o was t h e t ru e ri n g l ead er o f t h e

o p erat i o n

. “ W e rev i ew t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g ran t a m i n o r ro l e ad ju s t m en t fo r

cl ear erro r.” Un i t ed St at es v . Pri ce, 5 4 2 F.3 d 6 17 , 6 2 2 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 8 ).

Un d er § 3 B1 .2 o f t h e Sen t en ci n g Gu i d el in es

, a d efen d an t m ay be en t i t l ed t o a

t wo - t o fo u r-l ev el red u ct i o n i n o ffen s e l ev el i f t h e d ef e n d a n t “ p l ay s a p art in

co m m i t t i n g t h e o ffen s e th at m ak es h i m s u b s t an t ial l y l es s cu l p ab l e th an t h e av erag e

p art i ci p an t i n th e cri m i n al act i v i t y .” USSG § 3 B1 .2 cm t

. n

. 3 (A). Th e Gu i d el i n es l i s t

fi ve n o n -ex h au s t i ve fact o rs t o ai d i n t h i s d et erm i n at i o n:

(i ) t h e d eg ree t o wh i ch t h e defen d an t u n d ers t o o d t h e s co p e an d

s t ru ct u re o f t he cri m i n al act i v it y ;

(i i) t h e d eg ree t o w h i c h t h e d e f e n d an t p art i ci p at ed i n p l an n i n g o r

o rg an i zi n g t h e cri m i n al act i v i t y ;

(i ii ) t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h t h e d efen d an t ex erci sed d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

au t ho ri t y o r i nfl u en ced t h e ex erc ise of d eci s i o n -m ak i n g au th o ri t y ;

-6

-(i v) t h e n at u re an d ex t en t o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ’s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t he

co m m is s i o n o f t h e cri m i n al act i v i t y

, i n cl u di n g t h e act s th e

d efen d an t perfo rm ed an d t h e res p o n s ib i l i t y an d d is cret i o n th e

d efen d an t h ad i n p erfo rm i n g t h o s e act s ;

(v ) t h e d eg ree t o wh i ch t h e d efen d a n t s t o o d t o b e n e f i t fro m t he

cri m i n al act i vi t y

.

USSG § 3 B1 .2 cm t

. n

. 3 (C )

. In ap pl y i n g t h es e fact o rs

, t h e co urt en g ag es i n “ a

co m p arat ive a n al y s i s : each part i ci p an t ’ s act i on s s h ou l d b e co m p ared ag ai n s t t h e o t h er

p art i ci p an t s

, an d each p art i ci p an t ’ s cu l p ab i li t y s h ou l d b e ev al uat ed i n rel at i o n t o t h e

el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e.” Un i t ed St at es v

. Sal azar-Al em an

, 7 4 1 F.3 d 87 8

, 8 8 0 (8 th

Ci r. 2 0 13 ) (i nt ern al q u ot at i o n m ark s o m it t ed ).

T h e d i s t ri ct co u rt co n s i d ered t h e Gu i d el in es fact ors an d co m p ared Garci a’s

co n du ct t o Es cal an t e’ s b y c o n s i d eri n g t h e fact u al ci rcu m s t an ces s urro u n d i n g t h e

co n tro l l ed b uy t h at g av e ri s e t o Garci a’ s o ffen s e o f co n v i ct i on

. In d oi n g s o

, t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt n o t ed t h at Es cal an t e s eem ed t o “ h av e h ad a li t tl e b i t m o re i n vo l v em en t

i n th e t ran s act i o n ,” b u t co n cl u d ed t hat Garci a an d E scal an t e p l ay ed v ery s i m il ar ro l es

an d t h at “ t he rel at iv e cu l p ab i l i t y o f t h es e t w o in d i v i du a l s i s fai rl y co m parab l e.” R.

Do c. 1 5 2, at 4 9. Th e d i s t r i ct co u rt fu rt h er no t ed t h at Garci a cl earl y u n d ers t o o d t h e

n at u re of t h e t ran s act io n

, was a p as s en g er in t he veh i cl e u s ed d u ri n g t he t ran s act i o n,

k n e w t h ere w ere d ru g s i n t h e v eh i cl e, recei v ed an d h an d led t h e m o n ey ob t ai n ed

d u ri n g t h e t ran s act i o n

, ro d e i n t h e v eh i cl e wi t h Es cal an t e t o an o th er l o cat i o n to

ret ri ev e m o re dru gs

, an d b en efi t t ed fi n an ci al l y fro m t h e t ran s act i o n

. A l t ho u g h t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt d et erm i n ed t h ere was n o ev i d en ce th at Garci a p art ici p at ed i n p l an n i n g

t h e t ran s act i o n o r ex erci sed an y deci s i o n-m ak i n g au t h ori t y

, t h e d i s t ri ct co u r t

d et erm i n ed t h at th e ot h er fact o rs wei gh ed ag ai n s t award i n g th e red u ct i o n

, n o t i n g t h at

“ [j] u s t b ecau s e s o m eb o d y i s a l es ser p art i ci p an t i n a t ran s act i o n

, do es n ’ t n eces s ari l y

m ean t h at t h ey are en t i t led t o a m i t ig at i ng ro l e i n t h e offen s e.” R. Do c. 1 5 2

, at 4 9.

O n t h i s r e co rd

, we fi n d no cl ear erro r i n t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e m i n o r

p art i ci p an t o r m i n i m al ro l e red u ct i o n

.

-7

-D.

Fi n al l y

, Garci a ch al l en g es t h e s u bs t an ti v e reas o nab l en es s o f h i s wi t h i n

Gu i del in es -ran g e s en t en ce. “ W e rev iew t h e s ub s tan t i v e reas o n ab l en es s o f a s en t en ce

u n d er a d eferen t i al ab u s e-o f-d i s cret i o n s t an d ard

. . . . A s en t en ce wi t h in t h e Gu i d el i n es

ran g e is acco rd ed a p res u m p ti o n o f su b s tan t iv e reas o n ab l en e s s o n ap p eal .” Un i t ed

St at es v

. St

. C l a i r e, 8 3 1 F.3 d 1 0 3 9

, 1 0 43 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 1 6 ) (i n t ern al q u ot at i o n m ark s

o m it t ed ). G arci a a r g u e s t h at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt erred i n co n s i d eri n g t h e 1 8 U.S.C.

§ 3 5 5 3 (a) s en t en ci n g fact o rs

, p ri m ari l y as s ert i ng t h at he s h o u l d hav e recei v ed a l es s er

s en t en ce i n co m

p ari s o n to h i s co -d efen d an t

, Es cal an t e, wh o was t h e ap p aren t

ri ng l ead er o f t h e o p erat i o n an d recei v ed a sen t en ce o n l y 1 2 m o n t hs l o n g er t h an

Garci a. Garci a’ s Gu id el i n es ran g e cal l ed fo r a s en t en ce b et ween 1 88 an d 2 1 2 m o n t h s

i m p ri s o n m en t ; t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s i m p o s i t i o n o f a 1 8 8 -m on t h sen t en ce i s t hu s

p res u m p t i v el y r e a s o n ab l e. A n d a d i s t ri ct co urt h as “ wi de l at i t ud e” t o wei g h t h e

§ 3 5 5 3(a) fact o rs an d to “ as si g n s om e fact o rs g reat er w ei g ht t h an o t h ers .” Un i t ed

St at es v

. Bri d g es

, 5 6 9 F.3 d 3 7 4

, 3 7 9 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 0 9). Here, t h e sen t en ci n g tran s cri pt

refl ect s t h at th e d i s t ri ct co u rt p l aced m o re wei g h t o n t he n at u re an d ci rcu m st an ces o f

t h e o ffen s e t h an o n o th er fact o r s

. T h e d i s t ri ct co u rt s eri o us l y co ns i d ered t h e

m i t i gat in g fact o rs G arci a p res en t ed

, i n cl u d i n g h i s fam il y h i s t o ry

, an d rev i ewed at

l eas t on e l et t er th at w as s u b m i t t ed o n G a r c i a ’ s beh al f. Ho wev er, wh en wei g h ed

ag ai n s t t h e fact t h at th e d ru g t ran s act i o n t o o k p l ace i n a p u b l i c area an d pu t t h e p u b l i c

at ri s k, t h e d i s t ri ct co urt d et erm i n ed t h at a b ot t o m -o f-t h e-Gu i d el i n es -ran g e s en t en ce

was warran ted

. Th e d is t ri ct co u rt ’ s wei g h i n g o f t h e § 3 5 5 3(a) fact o rs was

ap p ro p ri at e, reg ard l es s o f t h e sen t en ce Garci a’ s co -d efen dan t recei v ed

. T h e d i s t ri ct

co u rt d i d n o t i m

po s e a s u bs t an ti v el y

u n reas o n ab l e s en t en ce.

III.

Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we affi rm

.

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