Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Irma Veronica SALVATIERRA, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-09-09
Citations: 75 F. App'x 236
Docket Number: No. 02-51411
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Irma Veronica SALVATIERRA, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 75
Pages: 236–238

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Irma Veronica SALVATIERRA, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 02-51411
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Sept. 9, 2003.
Diane D. Kirstein, Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant US Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Lucien B. Campbell, Federal Public Defender, Donna F. Coltharp, Federal Public Defender’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BARKSDALE, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Irma Veronica Salvatierra appeals her convictions for: conspiracy to import, and importation of, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. She contends: (1) her conviction should be reversed because the prosecutor made an improper remark during closing argument (concerning jury's doing something about drug use in community); and (2) her sentence should be vacated because the district court erred by not granting her a two-level reduction in her total offense level due to her minor role in the offense.
The claimed prosecutorial misconduct is reviewed under a two-step process by which we determine: (1) whether the comment was improper; and (2) whether it prejudiced Salvatierras substantive rights. See, e.g., United States v. Lankford, 196 F.3d 563, 574 (1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1119, 120 S.Ct. 1984, 146 L.Ed.2d 812 (2000). Assuming arguendo that the comment was improper, there was ample evidence for the jury to convict Salvatierra in the absence of the prosecutor's comment; therefore, she has not demonstrated that it prejudiced her substantial rights. See United States v. Duffaut, 314 F.3d 203, 210-11 (5th Cir.2002); see also United States v. Casilla, 20 F.3d 600, 606 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 892, 115 S.Ct. 240, 130 L.Ed.2d 163 (1994).
A district court's determination that a defendant played more than a "minor" role for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 is reviewed only for clear error. E.g., United States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 598 (5th Cir.2001). Salvatierra's sentence was based on the conduct in which she was directly involved, namely the transportation of drugs across the border. Because her role in the offense was co-extensive with the conduct for which she was held accountable, the district court did not clearly err in denying the reduction. Id. at 598-99.
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.