Court Opinion

ID: 49138
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 23:55:44+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:34.842560
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                 Fifth Circuit
                                                              F I L E D
                  UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                    May 3, 2007

                                                          Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                  Clerk
                           No. 06-20219
                         Summary Calendar

                     UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee,

                              versus

                   JUAN PEDRO ALVAREZ-BENAVIDEZ,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant.

          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                         (4:04-CR-346-2)

Before DAVIS, BARKSDALE, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Juan Pedro Alvarez-Benavidez appeals his sentence following

his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to possess in excess of

five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute.      He contends

the Government breached his plea agreement by failing to recommend

an average-participant role in the offense, as it had promised in

the agreement.   Because Alvarez-Benavidez did not raise this issue

in the district court, our review is only for plain error.            See

United States v. Munoz, 408 F.3d 222, 226 (5th Cir. 2005).

     *
       Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
     The   Government       concedes    it   breached   the    plea   agreement;

contrary to its promise, it urged the district court to adopt the

Presentence      Report’s    upward-adjustment      recommendation       for    an

organizer-of-the-offense role. Because the Government breached the

agreement, the sentence is vacated and this case is remanded for

resentencing before a different district court judge.                 See United

States v. Saling, 205 F.3d 764, 768 (5th Cir. 2000).

     Alvarez-Benavidez also claims the district court did not

provide    him   an   opportunity      for   allocution   at   the    sentencing

hearing.    Because he will be resentenced, this issue is moot.                See

United States v. Luciano-Rodriguez, 442 F.3d 320, 323 (5th Cir.),

cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 747 (2006).

CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING

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