Opinion ID: 655918
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Downward Adjustment for Minimal Participation in the Offense.

Text: 28 The district court found that Benitez and Moreno were minor participants in the criminal offense and therefore decreased their offense levels by two. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). Benitez and Moreno assert, however, that the district court erred by denying them a four-level downward adjustment for being minimal participants in the criminal activity pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(a). Whether a defendant is a ... 'minimal' participant in the criminal activity is a factual determination subject to the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Sanchez-Lopez, 879 F.2d 541, 557 (9th Cir.1989). 29 The Application Notes to § 3B1.2(a) state: 30 Subsection (a) applies to a defendant who plays a minimal role in concerted activity. It is intended to cover defendants who are plainly among the least culpable of those involved in the conduct of a group. Under this provision, the defendant's lack of knowledge or understanding of the scope and structure of the enterprise and of the activities of others is indicative of a role as minimal participant. 31 It is intended that the downward adjustment for a minimal participant will be used infrequently. It would be appropriate, for example, for someone who played no other role in a very large drug smuggling operation than to offload part of a single marihuana shipment, or in a case where an individual was recruited as a courier for a single smuggling transaction involving a small amount of drugs. 32 U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment. (nn. 1 & 2). 33 Regarding Benitez, the district court found that (1) Benitez had knowledge of the scope and structure of the enterprise, evidenced by the fact that the paper given to Hynes by Castillo linked Gunn to Rogelio and, subsequently, to Benitez; (2) Benitez had a connection with Belize, evidenced again by the piece of paper and by Benitez's knowledge of the password, Luis de parte de Rogelio; and (3) Benitez was heavily involved with Rogelio, a known drug dealer, indicated by numerous emergency calls from Benitez's brother-in-law's house to Rogelio. Although it is questionable whether the record supports a finding that Benitez had a direct connection with Belize, it does support his indirect connection to the kingpins through Rogelio and his role in planning and retrieving the cocaine shipment. Given this evidence, we affirm the district court's denial of a downward adjustment for minimal participation as not clearly erroneous. The district court's finding that Benitez was a minor participant was adequate under the circumstances. 34 Moreno argues that he is entitled to minimal participant status because he was the only defendant acquitted on Count Three, the substantive count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Benitez was convicted on Count Three, and the jury was unable to reach a decision regarding Hynes on that count. Moreno contends that this is evidence that he was the least culpable of the coconspirators and lacked understanding of the scope of the operation. 35 The district court disagreed, finding that (1) Hynes and Bevans appeared closer to being true mules and therefore were less culpable than Moreno; (2) Moreno had close contacts with the enterprise in Belize, indicated by his knowledge of the password given to Burton by Castillo and his participation in renegotiating the transfer of the 35 kilograms of cocaine, and therefore knew the scope of the operation; and (3) Moreno operated as a narcotics dealer, evidenced by the codes and numbers found in his possession upon his arrest. The record supports the conclusion that Moreno was much more than a drug courier. Thus, despite Moreno's acquittal on Counts One and Three, the district court's denial of the downward adjustment for minimal participation was not clearly erroneous. 36