Opinion ID: 765829
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Double Counting a Prior Cocaine Conviction in Sentencing

Text: 15 Blanco-Gallegos argues that the district court erred in assessing both a sixteen-level increase in offense level and three criminal history points for a single criminal conviction. A district court's interpretation of the sentencing guidelines is reviewed de novo. United States v. Bailey, 139 F.3d 667, 667 (9th Cir. 1998). 16 Pursuant to S 1326(b)(2) and based on his conviction for possession of a controlled substance for sale, BlancoGallegos's offense level was increased sixteen levels. BlancoGallegos was also given three criminal history points for that same conviction. Blanco-Gallegos argues that because this conviction was used to increase the offense level, it should not be used to increase his criminal history level as well. After Blanco-Gallegos filed his appeal, but before oral argument, we rejected that argument in United States v. Luna-Herrera, 149 F.3d 1054, 1055 (9th Cir. 1998). We follow that decision in this case. The commentary to S 2L1.2 of the Sentencing Guidelines specifically provides that [a]n adjustment under subsection (b) . . . [deportation of defendant after a prior felony conviction] applies in addition to any criminal history points added for such conviction. U.S.S.G. S 2L1.2, cmt. 4. The district court did not err in following this plain language.