Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Mario ROJAS, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-10-20
Citations: 111 F. App'x 307
Docket Number: No. 04-30017
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Mario ROJAS, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 111
Pages: 307–308

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Mario ROJAS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-30017.
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Oct. 20, 2004.
Catherine M. Maraist, Richard Lewis Bourgeois, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Anthony Modesto Bertucci, AMB Law Office, Baton Rouge, LA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before JOLLY, JONES, and WIENER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Mario Rojas ("Rojas") appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Rojas argues that the district court clearly erred by refusing to grant him a two to four level reduction in his offense level for being a minor or minimal partici pant in the offense because he was merely a drug courier.
Rojas's role in the offense "turns upon culpability, not courier status." See United States v. Buenrostro, 868 F.2d 135, 138 (5th Cir.1989). Consequently, Rojas is not necessarily eligible for a reduction of his offense level under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. See United States v. Edwards, 65 F.3d 430, 434 (5th Cir.1995). The large quantity of heroin that Rojas was transporting supports the district court's finding that Rojas was not a minor or minimal participant. See United States v. Gallegos, 868 F.2d 711, 712-13 (5th Cir.1989). Additionally, the fact that Rojas's sentence was based only upon activities in which he participated supports the district court's determination. See United States v. Atanda, 60 F.3d 196, 199 (5th Cir.1995). While Rojas did not have enough information to provide substantial assistance to authorities, this does not show that he was a minor or minimal participant because couriers who transport illegal substances without substantial knowledge of the criminal activities involved can be very valuable to a criminal organization. See Buenrostro, 868 F.2d at 138.
Rojas has not shown that the district court clearly erred by refusing him a reduction for being a minor or minimal participant in the offense. Accordingly, Rojas's sentence is AFFIRMED.
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.