Opinion ID: 655918
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Downward Departure for Having Been Mere Mules in the Conspiracy.

Text: 37 Benitez and Moreno also argue that the district court erred by not granting them a downward departure for being mere mules in the conspiracy. See United States v. Valdez-Gonzalez, 957 F.2d 643, 650 (9th Cir.1992) (affirming district court's downward departure from recommended Guideline range based on fact that defendants participated in drug trade as mere mules). Benitez asserts that the district court did not adequately consider the issue. Moreno contends that the district court erroneously held that because he was a coconspirator, he could not be considered a mule. 38 This court will not review a district court's discretionary decision not to depart downward from the Sentencing Guidelines. United States v. Sanchez, 914 F.2d 1355, 1363 (9th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 1626 (1991). If the district court refused to exercise its discretion because it believed it had none, however, we will review the decision. United States v. Cook, 938 F.2d 149, 152 (9th Cir.1991). The initial question, therefore, is whether the district court exercised its discretion not to depart downward. 39 The district court thoroughly analyzed whether Benitez and Moreno were mules. Although the court considered the fact that Benitez and Moreno were convicted on the conspiracy charge as persuasive evidence that they were not mules, we see no evidence that the court felt it lacked authority to depart downward because of that fact. Accordingly, we hold that the district court exercised its discretion in refusing to depart downward and that its decision is not reviewable. For the same reason, we find unreviewable Benitez's claim that the district court erred in refusing to depart on the basis of duress and the government's participation in targeting the drug traffickers. 40 AFFIRMED.