Opinion ID: 168610
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: M odesto Ivan Fonseca pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing methamphetamine. Based on the quantity of actual methamphetamine involved, the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) recommended a total offense level of twenty-nine, pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines (U SSG). Fonseca argued the district court should grant a downward departure because, as a middleman, he could not have reasonably foreseen the high purity of the drugs. The district court rejected his request and sentenced Fonseca to 108 months’ imprisonment, a sentence at the low end of the applicable Guideline range. Fonseca appeals his sentence, arguing the district court erroneously failed to recognize its discretion to grant the downward departure. Because the district court did not unambiguously state it lacked discretion to grant the requested downward departure, this court lacks jurisdiction and dismisses the appeal.