Court Opinion

ID: 45347
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 22:35:55+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:37.726083
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                          FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                                FILED
                          ------------------------------------------- U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                        ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                       No. 06-11711                       September 21, 2006
                                 Non-Argument Calendar                   THOMAS K. KAHN
                         --------------------------------------------          CLERK

                     D.C. Docket No. 05-00413-CR-T-24-EAJ

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                           versus

JOSE MILLER CUERO-SINISTERRA,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

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                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Florida
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                                 (September 21, 2006)

Before EDMONDSON, Chief Judge, DUBINA and HULL, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Defendant-Appellant Jose Miller Cuero-Sinisterra appeals his 135-month

sentence imposed after he pled guilty to (1) possession with intent to distribute
five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction

of the United States, in violation of 46 App. U.S.C. § 1903(a), (g); 18 U.S.C. § 2;

and 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(B)(ii); and (2) conspiracy to possess with intent to

distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the

jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 46 App. U.S.C. § 1903(a), (g), and

(j); and 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(B)(ii). No reversible error has been shown; we

affirm.

       Cuero-Sinisterra asserts that the district erred in denying him a minor role

reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b).* He contends that he was less culpable

than the other persons found on the boat (which was carrying 269 bales of

cocaine) because he was not essential to the smuggling operation, was not aware

of the scope of the operation, and did not have a proprietary interest in the

smuggled drugs. Cuero-Sinisterra also contends that he was on the boat only to

assist in unloading the cocaine.

       We review for clear error “a district court’s determination of a defendant’s

role in the offense.” United States v. De Varon, 175 F.3d 930, 937 (11th Cir.

   *
    On appeal Cuero-Sinisterra also argues for the first time that he was entitled to a minimal role
reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(a). Because we conclude that the district court did not err in
refusing to apply a minor role reduction, we reject Cuero-Sinisterra’s argument about receiving no
minimal role reduction.

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1999) (en banc). Under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b), “[a] defendant warrants a two-level

reduction for playing a minor role in an offense if he is less culpable than most

other participants, although his role could not be described as minimal.” United

States v. Ryan, 289 F.3d 1339, 1348 (11th Cir. 2002). The defendant has the

burden of establishing his role by a preponderance of evidence. De Varon, 175

F.3d at 939.

       Sentencing courts should consider two elements when determining a

defendant’s role in an offense: “first, the defendant’s role in the relevant conduct

for which [he] has been held accountable at sentencing, and, second, [his] role as

compared to that of other participants in [his] relevant conduct.” Id. at 940. The

first element is more important and, in many cases, may end the inquiry. See id. at

945.

       The district court committed no clear error in determining that Cuero-

Sinisterra’s role in the offense was more than minor. About the first element,

Cuero-Sinisterra’s sentence was based only on the relevant conduct for which he

was held accountable at sentencing: the 269 bales of cocaine seized from the drug

smuggling boat. He was held accountable for no larger quantity. And the district

court correctly pointed to the boat’s “huge” drug quantity in denying Cuero-

Sinisterra a minor role reduction. See id. at 943 (noting that, in the drug courier

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context, the amount of drugs is a “material consideration” in assessing a

defendant’s role in his relevant conduct). About the second element, Cuero-

Sinisterra was one of only nine persons on the boat, which was carrying a very

large cocaine delivery. He has failed to show that he was “less culpable than most

other participants in [his] relevant conduct,” id. at 944; and we see no clear error

in the district court’s refusal to apply a minor role reduction in this case.

      AFFIRMED.

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