Opinion ID: 3003404
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Role in the Offense Reduction

Text: At sentencing, the district court found that Alvarez was a minor participant in the charged conspiracy and granted her a two-level reduction. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). Alvarez argues that she was only a minimal participant and should have received a four-level reduction. See id. § 3B1.2(a). We review the district court’s finding of fact on this issue for clear error. United States v. Gonzalez, 534 F.3d 613, 616 (7th Cir. 2008). We rarely reverse a court’s denial of a defendant’s request for a reduction based on her limited role in the offense, United States v. Mendoza, 457 F.3d 726, 729 (7th Cir. 2006), and we will do so only when we are “left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed,” Gonzalez, 534 F.3d at 616 (quotations omitted). A defendant must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that she is entitled to a minimal or minor participant adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. United 18 Nos. 07-3964, 07-4060 & 08-1141 States v. McKee, 389 F.3d 697, 700 (7th Cir. 2004). The Sentencing Guidelines define a “minimal” participant as one who is “plainly among the least culpable of those involved in the conduct of a group.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.4. One sign of a minimal participant is a “lack of knowledge or understanding of the scope and structure of the enterprise and of the activities of others.” Id. The Sentencing Commission expressly stated its intent “that the downward adjustment for a minimal participant will be used infrequently.” Id. A “minor” participant, on the other hand, is one “who is less culpable than most other participants, but whose role could not be described as minimal.” Id. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.5. The district court did not err by considering Alvarez to be a minor participant. A defendant who was an essential part of a conspiracy does not merit a role reduction simply because other members of the conspiracy were more involved. United States v. Gallardo, 497 F.3d 727, 741 (7th Cir. 2007). We have previously held that even a minor role reduction need not apply to a defendant who was close to the leaders of a conspiracy and handled or transported drugs. See, e.g., United States v. Bautista, 532 F.3d 667, 674 (7th Cir. 2008) (affirming denial of reduced role for a primarily silent compatriot of the conspiracy’s leaders who once transported a pound of methamphetamine); Gallardo, 497 F.3d at 741 (noting that defendant “handled large quantities of cash and drugs [and] executed essential deliveries”); Mendoza, 457 F.3d at 729-30 (affirming denial of a minor role reduction based upon defendant’s close relationship with the leader and role as a drug courier); United States v. Rodriguez-Cardenas, 362 F.3d 958, Nos. 07-3964, 07-4060 & 08-1141 19 960 (7th Cir. 2004) (finding no clear error in denying a minor role reduction for a defendant who delivered drugs on two occasions); United States v. Osborne, 931 F.2d 1139, 1157-59 (7th Cir. 1991) (discussing the importance of drug couriers, particularly those willing to undertake illegal transit while remaining “studiously ignorant” (quotations omitted)). This brief review of our jurisprudence suggests that Alvarez was fortunate to receive any role reduction at all. As we have mentioned several times now, witnesses testified that she substantially assisted the conspiracy’s drug trafficking activity. She was close to the drug network’s leaders, who trusted her to transport drugs and money on multiple occasions. The district court expressly stated that Alvarez was “less culpable than most of the other participants; but her role, given the number of trips that she made and the trust . . . which was placed in her, I cannot find that she is a minimal participant; but she is a minor participant.” We can find no clear error in this determination.