Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Cesilio RIVERA, a.k.a. Roberto, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-04-04
Citations: 174 F. App'x 508
Docket Number: No. 05-15257; D.C. Docket No. 04-00536-CR-1-1
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Cesilio RIVERA, a.k.a. Roberto, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 174
Pages: 508–509

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Cesilio RIVERA, a.k.a. Roberto, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 05-15257
Non-Argument Calendar.
D.C. Docket No. 04-00536-CR-1-1.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
April 4, 2006.
Amy Levin Weil, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Atlanta, GA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Vionnette Reyes, Federal Defender Program, Inc., Atlanta, GA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BLACK, BARKETT and HULL, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Cesilio Rivera, though counsel, appeals his 188-month sentence for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii). The district court calculated Rivera's advisory Guidelines range as 188 to 235 months. On appeal, Rivera argues that the district court clearly erred in assessing a two-level increase in his offense level for an aggravating role in the offense, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.1(c). After review, we affirm Rivera's 188-month sentence.
A. Role Enhancement
Section 3B1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines allows the sentencing court to increase a defendant's offense level by two, three or four levels as follows:
(a) If the defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase by 4 levels.
(b) If the defendant was a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) and the criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase by 3 levels.
(c) If the defendant was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in any criminal activity other than described in (a) or (b), increase by 2 levels.
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1. "Section 3B1.1 requires the exercise of some authority in the organization, the exertion of some degree of control, influence, or leadership." United States v. Yates, 990 F.2d 1179, 1182 (11th Cir.1993). The four-level enhancement in § 3Bl.l(a) also requires criminal activity that involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive. U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(a). However, "the assertion of control or influence over only one individual is enough to support a § 3Bl.l(c) enhancement." United States v. Jiminez, 224 F.3d 1243, 1251 (11th Cir.2000). In assessing a defendant's role in the offense, the factors the courts should consider include:
the exercise of decision making authority, [2] the nature of participation in the commission of the offense, [3] the recruitment of accomplices, [4] the claimed right to a larger share of the fruits of the crime, [5] the degree of participation in planning or organizing the offense, [6] the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and [7] the degree of control and authority exercised over others.
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1 cmt. n. 4.
B. Rivera's Enhancement
Here, the district court did not clearly err in enhancing Rivera's sentence by two levels for his aggravated role in the offense. Through the testimony of an undercover agent, the government demonstrated that Rivera (1) negotiated the price of a pound of methamphetamine from $11,000 to $12,500; (2) negotiated the terms of another sale, including allowing the agent to take the drugs to New York and pay later; and (3) gave direction to a subordinate in the presence of the agent. Further, on one occasion, the undercover agent attempted to negotiate prices with the same subordinate, who told the agent to call Rivera directly. In short, Rivera exercised decision-making authority, was the main participant in the commission of the offense, had a large, if not exclusive, role in planning or organizing the offense, and appeared to control a subordinate's activities. Thus, there is no reversible error in the role enhancement in this case.
AFFIRMED.
. Rivera was sentenced on September 1, 2005, and after United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). We review the district court's application of the Guidelines under the same standards as we did pre-Booker, namely, that the district court's interpretation of the Guidelines is reviewed de novo and factual findings are reviewed for clear error. United States v. Crawford, 407 F.3d 1174, 1178 (11th Cir.2005). We first determine, utilizing preBooker precedent, whether the district court correctly interpreted and applied the Guidelines to determine the appropriate advisory Guidelines range. See id. at 1178. On appeal, Rivera argues only about the role enhancement and does not raise a reasonableness issue.