Court Opinion

ID: 9911497
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-20 01:00:41.310913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:23.782869
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-50276         Document: 00517007297             Page: 1      Date Filed: 12/19/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 23-50276
                                     Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                     ____________                              December 19, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                           Clerk

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Juan Ricardo Martinez,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Western District of Texas
                               USDC No. 4:22-CR-619-2
                      ______________________________

   Before Elrod, Oldham, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Juan Ricardo Martinez appeals the sentence imposed for aiding and
   abetting the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of
   methamphetamine. He challenges the district court’s application of the
   sentencing guidelines enhancement for having an aggravating role in the
   offense.

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-50276     Document: 00517007297         Page: 2   Date Filed: 12/19/2023

                                  No. 23-50276

         “Whether a defendant exercised an aggravating role as an organizer,
   leader, manager, or supervisor for purposes of an adjustment under U.S.S.G.
   § 3B1.1(c) is a finding of fact reviewed for clear error.” United States v.
   Ochoa-Gomez, 777 F.3d 278, 281 (5th Cir. 2015). At sentencing, Martinez
   conceded that he recruited two individuals to accompany him. The district
   court found that Martinez had been offered the opportunity to transport the
   methamphetamine initially and that the two others were involved in the
   offense only because Martinez offered them the opportunity to join. These
   findings are plausible based on the record as a whole and not clearly
   erroneous. See United States v. Zuniga, 720 F.3d 587, 590 (5th Cir. 2013).
   The district court did not clearly err in finding that the § 3B1.1(c)
   enhancement applied. See Ochoa-Gomez, 777 F.3d at 281.
         AFFIRMED.

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