Court Opinion

ID: 9367872
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-02 01:00:31.685145+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:04.109115
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-20209        Document: 00516631327             Page: 1      Date Filed: 02/01/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________                     United States Court of Appeals
                                                                               Fifth Circuit

                                      No. 22-20209                           FILED
                                    Summary Calendar                   February 1, 2023
                                    ____________                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                             Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Julio Gonzalez,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 4:20-CR-454-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Stewart, Duncan, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         Julio Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to
   distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a
   detectable amount of cocaine and possession of a firearm after felony
   conviction. He was sentenced within the applicable guidelines range to 100
   months of imprisonment. On appeal, he contends that the district court

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-20209      Document: 00516631327          Page: 2    Date Filed: 02/01/2023

                                    No. 22-20209

   erred in holding him accountable for 3.5 to 5 kilograms of cocaine for
   sentencing purposes. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c). To this end, he argues that
   the record demonstrates that he only intended to purchase three kilograms
   of cocaine and that any transaction concerning an additional kilogram of
   cocaine was not relevant conduct. He also contends that the district court
   erred in declining to apply a two-level minor participant adjustment under
   U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). We review both issues for clear error. See United States
   v. Anchundia-Espinoza, 897 F.3d 629, 632 (5th Cir. 2018); United States v.
   Betancourt, 422 F.3d 240, 246 (5th Cir. 2005).
          As for the drug quantity finding, according to the factual basis
   supporting Gonzalez’s plea and the presentence report, Gonzalez’s
   codefendant Jose Lopez-Rodriguez and a confidential source (CS) planned a
   meeting for a transaction involving four kilograms of cocaine at an agreed
   price of $27,000 per kilogram. Rodriguez-Lopez contacted Gonzalez and
   another codefendant, Eric Pena-Briones, about the opportunity. Gonzalez
   and Pena-Briones arrived together at the location of the planned transaction
   and met with Rodriguez-Lopez and the CS. During the meeting, Gonzalez
   opened his backpack and displayed a large amount of money, which agents
   later determined to be $89,860; the CS deemed that amount sufficient to
   complete the transaction and contacted an undercover agent. The agent
   arrived and handed an open box containing four kilograms of sham cocaine
   to Pena-Briones, who then placed all four kilograms in Lopez-Rodriguez’s
   vehicle. After his arrest, Gonzalez admitted to law enforcement that another
   individual provided him with funds to buy three kilograms of cocaine and that
   the plan was for Gonzalez to buy three kilograms and for Pena-Briones to buy
   one kilogram. Given these facts, it was plausible in light of the record as a
   whole for the district court to find that the purchase of the fourth kilogram of
   cocaine was reasonably foreseeable to Gonzalez and within the scope of the
   jointly undertaken criminal activity. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B); United

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Case: 22-20209      Document: 00516631327          Page: 3   Date Filed: 02/01/2023

                                    No. 22-20209

   States v. Johnson, 14 F.4th 342, 347, 349-51 (5th Cir. 2021), cert. denied, 142
   S. Ct. 928 (2022); Betancourt, 422 F.3d at 246.
          In addition, the record refutes Gonzalez’s contention that he played a
   peripheral role in the criminal activity. After learning of the opportunity to
   purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine, Gonzalez took the initiative to
   contact another individual who provided him funds. He then brought cash
   to buy at least three of the four kilograms of cocaine involved in the
   transaction. Moreover, Gonzalez anticipated receiving $3,000 (or $1,000
   per kilogram), and he admitted that, if the transaction was successful, he
   planned to buy 10 more kilograms of cocaine. The district court’s finding
   that Gonzalez was not a minor participant was plausible in light of the record
   as a whole. See Anchundia-Espinoza, 897 F.3d at 634-35; § 3B1.2, comment.
   (nn.3(C) & 5).
          AFFIRMED.

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