Court Opinion

ID: 9383558
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-30 18:00:44.743574+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:46.367926
License: Public Domain

Case: 21-51008         Document: 00516694825             Page: 1      Date Filed: 03/30/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 21-51008
                                     Summary Calendar                                 FILED
                                                                                March 30, 2023
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                          Clerk

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Javier Spindola,

                                                                  Defendant—Appellant.

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Western District of Texas
                               USDC No. 4:01-CR-125-1

   Before Richman, Chief Judge, Stewart, and Willett, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
          Javier Spindola pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting possession with
   intent to distribute 100-1,000 kilograms of marijuana. The district court
   sentenced Spindola to 97 months of imprisonment and five years of
   supervised release. Spindola appeals, arguing that the district court erred in
   denying his request for a mitigating role adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2.

          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 21-51008      Document: 00516694825           Page: 2    Date Filed: 03/30/2023

                                     No. 21-51008

          This court reviews preserved challenges to the district court’s
   interpretation and application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and its
   factual findings for clear error. See United States v. Rodriguez, 630 F.3d 377,
   380 (5th Cir. 2011). Whether Spindola was a minor participant under § 3B1.2
   is a factual determination that this court reviews for clear error. United States
   v. Torres-Hernandez, 843 F.3d 203, 207 (5th Cir. 2016).
          Spindola had the burden of proving by a preponderance of the
   evidence that he was substantially less culpable than the average participant.
   United States v. Castro, 843 F.3d 608, 613 (5th Cir. 2016). To qualify as a
   minor participant, he must have been “peripheral to the advancement of the
   illicit activity.” Id. at 613-14 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
          Spindola argues that he did not plan or organize the criminal activity,
   that he had no decision-making authority, and that he merely followed orders.
   The substance of this argument is that he was a mere courier. This is not
   sufficient to carry the burden of showing entitlement to a mitigating role
   adjustment. See Torres-Hernandez, 843 F.3d at 207.
          The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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