Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roberto HERNANDEZ-GARCIA, also known as Beto also known as Sorullo, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-12-12
Citations: 211 F. App'x 604
Docket Number: No. 05-30398
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roberto HERNANDEZ-GARCIA, also known as Beto also known as Sorullo, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: GOODWIN, RYMER, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 211
Pages: 604–605

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roberto HERNANDEZ-GARCIA, also known as Beto also known as Sorullo, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 05-30398.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Dec. 4, 2006 .
Filed Dec. 12, 2006.
Vincent T. Lombardi, Esq., John McKay, Esq., USSE-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Seattle, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
David B. Bukey, Esq., Seattle, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before: GOODWIN, RYMER, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Roberto Hernandez-Garcia appeals from the 75-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we vacate and remand.
Hernandez-Garcia contends that the district court erred in concluding that he was ineligible for a minor role adjustment pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. We agree.
Even though Hernandez-Garcia pleaded guilty to a less serious offense, the district court was still required to conduct a factual inquiry into the role of the defendant as compared to other participants. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, application note 3; United States v. Demers, 13 F.3d 1381, 1383, 1385-86 (9th Cir.1994).
Thus, based on the sentencing transcript, and because the district court declined to assess the defendant's culpability with respect to other participants in the criminal scheme, we vacate the sentence and remand to enable the district court to reconsider whether Hernandez-Garcia was a minor participant under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. See 18 U.S.C. § 3742(f)(1). In doing so, we do not suggest that the district court, in its exercise of its discretion, is precluded from denying the requested adjustment.
VACATED and REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.