Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rodolfo BELTRAN, also known as Rudy, also known as Chano, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-12-16
Citations: 117 F. App'x 980
Docket Number: No. 03-51397
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rodolfo BELTRAN, also known as Rudy, also known as Chano, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 117
Pages: 980–982

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rodolfo BELTRAN, also known as Rudy, also known as Chano, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 03-51397.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Dec. 16, 2004.
Joseph H. Gay, Jr, Assistant U.S. Attorney, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Gary Joel Hill, El Paso, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Defendant-Appellant Rodolfo ("Rudy") Beltran appeals his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He argues that in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Blakely v. Washington, — U.S. -, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), the sentence enhancements he was assessed for obstruction of justice and having an aggravating role were unconstitutional.
Beltran's argument is foreclosed by this court's opinion in United States v. Pineiro, 377 F.3d 464, 473 (5th Cir.2004), petition for cert. filed — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 1003, - L.Ed.2d -, 2005 WL 124197 (U.S. July 14, 2004)(No. 04-5263), in which we held that Blakely does not apply to the federal sentencing guidelines.
Beltran alternatively contests his sentence, arguing that the district court erred by enhancing his sentence based on his having an aggravating role in the offense. We review the district court's factual determination that Beltran played an aggravating role for clear error. See United States v. Turner, 319 F.3d 716, 724 (5th Cir.), ant denied, 538 U.S. 1017, 123 S.Ct. 1939, 155 L.Ed.2d 857 (2003). The uncontroverted information provided in the PSR and the testimony adduced at the sentencing hearing confirm that the district court did not clearly err in assessing Beltran an aggravating role in the offense. See id. at 724-25. Given this conclusion, we further hold that there was no error, plain or otherwise, in Beltran's not receiving the minor-role adjustment. U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment. (n.3(A)); United States v. Guerrero, 5 F.3d 868, 870 (5th Cir.1993).
Beltran also contends that the district court erred in assessing him a two-level adjustment for obstruction of justice. We review the district court's factual finding of obstruction of justice under the dear-error standard. See United States v. Odiodio, 244 F.3d 398, 404 (5th Cir.2001). Beltran's own testimony at the sentencing hearing established that he remained in Mexico to avoid judicial process in this country. The district court did not clearly err in determining that the adjustment for obstruction of justice assessment was warranted. See U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, comment. (n.4(e)); Odiodio, 244 F.3d at 404.
Finally, Beltran argues that the district court erred by concluding that he was not eligible for application of the safety-valve provision of U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. As Beltran was an organizer/Ieader in the offense, he did not meet the requirements for application of the safety valve. See U.S.S.G. § 501.2(a).
Beltran's conviction and sentence are, in all respects,
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.