Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jerry LOPEZ, Defendant-Appellant,
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-03-14
Citations: 681 F. App'x 651
Docket Number: No. 16-10074
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jerry LOPEZ, Defendant-Appellant,
Judges: Before: LEAVY, W. FLETCHER, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 681
Pages: 651–651

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jerry LOPEZ, Defendant-Appellant,
No. 16-10074
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted March 8, 2017
Filed March 14, 2017
Amy E. Brown, USPX—Office of the US Attorney, Phoenix, AZ, for Plaintiff-Appellee
Deborah Ann Bigbee, Esquire, Attorney, Scottsdale, AZ, for Defendant-Appellant
Before: LEAVY, W. FLETCHER, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Jerry Lopez challenges the 37-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(l)(A)(v)(I) and (a)(l)(B)(i). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
The government argues that the appeal should be dismissed on the basis.of the appeal waiver contained in the plea agreement. In light of the district court's ambiguous statement regarding the scope of the waiver during the plea colloquy, we decline to dismiss. See Fed. R. Crim. P. ll(b)(l)(N); United States v. Buchanan, 59 F.3d 914, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1995).
Lopez contends that the district court erred by increasing his offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2Ll.l(b)(6) upon finding that he recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury in the course of his offense. He argues that the court was required to find the facts supporting the enhancement by clear and convincing evidence and such evidence was lacking. The undisputed facts showed that Lopez transported three individuals in the trunk of his sedan, two individuals were in the trunk for approximately two hours, and the trunk was cramped with no fresh or cool air. Two of the individuals stated they feared for their safety, and one explained she was short of breath.' We need not resolve what evidentiary standard the district court should have applied because, under any standard, these facts were sufficient to support the enhancement. See U.S.S.G. § 2L1.1 cmt. n.5 (2015) ("transporting persons in the trunk . of a motor vehicle" example of conduct warranting increase); United States v. Bernardo, 818 F.3d 983, 986 (9th Cir. 2016).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publi' cation and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.