Opinion ID: 2718613
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Vargas’ Plea Deal and Sentencing

Text: Vargas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 (Count One); the government dismissed the other counts against him. Vargas admitted that he was responsible for 1,723 kilograms of marijuana, which placed him at a base offense level of 32 under U.S.S.G. §§ 2D1.1(a)(5) and (c)(4). The district court allowed a three‐level reduction for Vargas’ acceptance of responsibility, dropping his total offense level to 29. The probation officer, however, recommended a three‐level enhancement under § 3B1.1(b) due to Vargas’ role as a mana‐ ger or supervisor in the conspiracy, since Vargas “oversaw” the delivery of the marijuana and the proceeds, was a contact person for Villa, gave Salinas’ phone number to Villa, and provided instructions on how to package the drug money. With the enhancement, Vargas’ resulting guidelines range was 121–151 months.3 Vargas objected to the manager/supervisor enhancement arguing that it should not be imposed since he acted only as a 3 Without the enhancement, Vargas would have qualified for the “safety valve” provision, which would have dropped his applicable guidelines range to 70–87 months. Nos. 12‐3769 & 13‐1378 7 messenger and a middleman. He claims that he did not act as a manager or supervisor because he did not exercise decision‐ making authority, recruit members, or have control over other participants. He also pointed out that he did not set the price of the drugs, handle the drugs or the proceeds, and received only a small fee for his services ($25 per pound of marijuana). The district court considered Vargas’ objection to the enhancement but overruled it. In reaching its conclusion, the court relied on the probation officer’s recommendation in the Presentence Investigation Report, the evidence presented at Salinas’ trial such as the intercepted phone conversations implicating Vargas, as well as Vargas’ recitation of facts in his plea declaration. The court sentenced Vargas to 121 months in prison, a four‐year term of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. Vargas timely appealed his sentence.