Court Opinion

ID: 164960
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 08:37:14+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:46.315784
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                   United States Court of Appeals
                                                                           Tenth Circuit
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                          DEC 13 2004
                                   TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                      PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

          Plaintiff-Appellee,
                                                          No. 03-2088
v.                                                 (District of New Mexico)
                                                  (D.C. No. CR-02-84-WJP)
BERNIE BANUELOS,

          Defendant-Appellant.

                                ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before MURPHY, HOLLOWAY, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.

                                  I. INTRODUCTION

      A jury convicted Bernie Banuelos of (1) distributing heroin, (2) possessing

with intent to distribute a substance containing cocaine base, and (3) conspiring to

possess with intent to distribute a substance containing cocaine base, all in

violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846. The district court imposed a term of

imprisonment of 240 months on the heroin distribution conviction, imposed a

      *
       This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
term of imprisonment of 324 months on each of the convictions relating to

cocaine base, and ordered that all sentences run concurrently. On appeal,

Banuelos asserts the district court erred in the following particulars: (1) giving an

Allen instruction to the jury; (2) refusing to give the jury an entrapment

instruction; (3) enhancing his sentence for possessing a firearm in connection

with his drug convictions; (4) enhancing his sentence for acting as an organizer,

leader, manager or supervisor; and (5) refusing to depart downward from the

otherwise applicable Sentencing Guideline range. As to all claims except

Banuelos’ downward departure claim, this court exercises jurisdiction pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and affirms. As to Banuelos’

downward departure claim, this court dismisses the appeal for lack of appellate

jurisdiction.

                                II. BACKGROUND

      In December of 2001, a confidential informant told law enforcement agents

that Banuelos and Delilah Ortiz were selling crack cocaine, heroin, and

methamphetamine out of their apartment (the “Acoma apartment”) in

Albuquerque, New Mexico. The informant introduced Agent Bryan Shields, who

was working in an undercover capacity, to Banuelos. On December 14th, Shields

and Albuquerque Police Detective Gregory Cunningham, who was also working

                                          -2-
in an undercover capacity, went to the Acoma apartment to buy crack cocaine.

Both Banuelos and Ortiz were in the Acoma apartment when the agents arrived.

Shields and Cunningham told Banuelos that they were drug dealers from Durango,

Colorado. After the agents arrived at the Acoma apartment, they observed

Banuelos selling heroin to an individual in the apartment. The agents asked

Banuelos if he had any crack cocaine to sell. Banuelos had crack cocaine to sell

that evening, but it was of an inferior quality. The agents declined to purchase

the crack cocaine from Banuelos, fearing that if they appeared too anxious it

might indicate that they were undercover agents. Instead, the agents accepted

Banuelos’ offer to sell them $1200 worth of heroin.

      The agents decided to continue buying drugs from Banuelos without

arresting him because they hoped to determine the identity of Banuelos’ supplier.

For his part, Banuelos continued selling drugs to the agents even after Ortiz told

him that she suspected Shields was an undercover agent. Banuelos told Ortiz not

to worry because the agents were the informant’s friends. Shields, again posing

as a drug dealer from Durango, Colorado, called Banuelos on December 19th.

Shields told Banuelos that the heroin had not sold well in Colorado and again

asked to purchase two ounces of crack cocaine. When Shields declined Banuelos’

offer to engage in a methamphetamine transaction, Banuelos told Shields that he

would call him back. After the phone call, Banuelos went to a house in southeast

                                         -3-
Albuquerque and obtained crack cocaine. 2 Banuelos then called Shields and told

him he had two ounces of high quality crack cocaine to sell; he also told Shields

to come to the Acoma apartment. The agents obtained a search warrant and went

to the Acoma apartment. As they approached, someone yelled “five-oh,” a slang

term for police. Banuelos, who was outside the Acoma apartment, took the crack

cocaine from his pocket, threw it on the ground, and fled. Officers found the two

ounces of crack cocaine discarded by Banuelos on the ground outside the Acoma

apartment. Inside the Acoma apartment, officers found Ortiz and a loaded

revolver.

      Banuelos did not testify at trial. Ortiz, however, did testify. She testified

that she helped Banuelos sell crack cocaine and heroin in the Acoma apartment,

and that she had done so for approximately eight months. She further testified

that Banuelos obtained the drugs they sold, took the money from the drug sales,

gave her money to buy groceries, and paid the apartment rent and bills.

      Although a detective with the Albuquerque Police Department followed
      2

Banuelos to the house in southeast Albuquerque, the detective was not able to
determine who sold Banuelos the crack cocaine.

                                        -4-
                                  III. ANALYSIS

A.    The Allen Instruction

      Three hours after it began deliberations, the jury sent a note to the judge

indicating that it was at an impasse as to two of the three counts. 3 In response to

the jury’s note, the prosecutor requested that the district court give the jury an

instruction consistent with that approved by the Supreme Court in Allen v. United

States, 164 U.S. 492 (1896); Banuelos opposed the giving of an Allen instruction.

The district court recalled the jury and gave them an Allen instruction. 4 The jury

      3
       The note indicated as follows:
      Your Honor, after some intensive deliberations, the jury remains
      solidly split on 2 out of the 3 counts. The sides continue to be more,
      not less, polarized the more discussion & arguing that takes place.
      We feel that we are at an irrevocable impasse on these two counts.
      4
       The oral instruction was as follows:
             Members of the jury, I’ve reviewed the note I received from
      the foreman. I’m going to ask that you continue your deliberations in
      an effort to agree upon a verdict and dispose of this case, and I have
      a few additional comments that I would like for you to consider as
      you do so:
             This is an important case. The trial has been expensive in
      time, effort, and money to both the defense and prosecution. If you
      should fail to agree on a verdict, the case is left open and may be
      tried again on those counts on which you do not agree. Obviously,
      another trial would only serve to increase the cost to both sides, and
      there’s no reason to believe that the case can be tried again by either
      side better or more exhaustively than it has been tried before you.
             Any further jury must be selected in the same manner from the
      same source as you were chosen, and there’s no reason to believe that
      the case could ever be submitted to 12 men and women more
      conscientious, more impartial, and more competent to decide it, or
                                                                       (continued...)

                                         -5-
then resumed deliberations; approximately two hours and twenty minutes later,

the jury returned a verdict finding Banuelos guilty on all three counts set out in

the indictment.

      On appeal, Banuelos argues that the Allen instruction given by the district

court was impermissibly coercive, both because of its content and its timing. This

court examines Allen instructions on a case-by-case basis to determine whether

any given instruction is impermissibly coercive. United States v. Alcorn, 329

F.3d 759, 765 (10th Cir. 2003). Some of the factors this court considers in

making this determination include: “(1) the language of the instruction, (2)

      4
       (...continued)
      that more or clearer evidence could be produced.
             If a substantial majority of your number are for a conviction,
      each dissenting juror ought to consider whether a doubt in his or her
      mind is a reasonable one since it appears to make no effective
      impression upon the minds of the others. On the other hand, if a
      majority or even lessor number of you are for acquittal, the other
      jurors ought to ask themselves again and most thoughtfully whether
      they do not have a reason to doubt the correctness of a judgment
      which is not shared by several of their fellow jurors and whether they
      should distrust the weight and sufficiency of the evidence which fails
      to convince several other jurors beyond a reasonable doubt.
             Remember at all times that no juror is expected to yield a
      conscientious conviction he or she may have as to the weight or
      effect of evidence. But, remember also that, after full deliberation
      and consideration of the evidence in this case, it is your duty to agree
      upon a verdict if you can do so without surrendering your
      conscientious conviction. You must also remember that, if the
      evidence in the case fails to establish guilt beyond a reasonable
      doubt, the accused should have your unanimous verdict of not guilty.

                                         -6-
whether the instruction is presented with other instructions, (3) the timing of the

instruction, and (4) the length of the jury’s subsequent deliberations.” Id.

(quotation omitted).

      Banuelos argues that the Allen instruction given by the district court was

unduly coercive because it referred to the expense of a trial and possible retrial.

This court has, however, previously approved Allen instructions containing

similar language. See, e.g., United States v. Reed, 61 F.3d 803, 805 & n.5 (10th

Cir. 1995); United States v. Rodriguez-Mejia, 20 F.3d 1090, 1091 (10th Cir.

1994). In fact, the Allen instruction at issue here is in every material way

identical to the instruction given in Reed. In Reed, this court described this

particular version of an Allen instruction as follows: “The Allen charge eventually

given was evenhanded; it did not presume that the majority favored a guilty

verdict; and it emphasized that no juror was expected to yield a conscientious

conviction on the evidence.” Reed, 61 F.3d at 805. If anything, the Allen

instruction given in this case was weighted against the prosecution. The district

court urged the jurors who had favored acquittal to reconsider their views only if

a “substantial majority” favored conviction. On the other hand, it asked those

jurors who favored conviction to reconsider their views if a “majority or lessor

number” were for acquittal. Thus, in essence, the district court asked the jurors

who were for acquittal to reconsider only if there were a substantial majority for

                                          -7-
conviction, but asked all jurors who were for conviction to reconsider.

Furthermore, the instruction twice stated that no juror was expected to yield a

conscientious conviction and specifically reminded the jury that “if the evidence

in the case fails to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the accused should

have your unanimous verdict of not guilty.” In these circumstances, this court has

no difficulty concluding that the wording of the Allen instruction given by the

district court was not impermissibly coercive. See Reed, 61 F.3d at 805;

Rodriguez-Mejia, 20 F.3d at 1091-92; United States v. McKinney, 822 F.2d 946,

950-51 (10th Cir. 1987).

      Banuelos argues that notwithstanding the wording of the Allen instruction,

the jury’s relatively short period of deliberation after the giving of the instruction

suggests coercion. This court recognizes that “a jury returning with a verdict

soon after receiving an Allen charge ‘suggests the possibility of coercion.’”

United States v. Arney, 248 F.3d 984, 990 (10th Cir. 2001). It must be noted,

however, that there is no per se rule regarding the amount of time a jury takes to

reach a verdict after having received an Allen instruction. See, e.g., Arney, 248

F.3d at 990 (concluding there was no coercion where verdict reached one hour

after receiving instruction); Reed, 61 F.3d at 804-05 (same); McKinney, 822 F.2d

at 950 (concluding there was no coercion where verdict reached on twenty-nine

counts in one hour and twenty minutes after receiving instruction); Munroe v.

                                          -8-
United States, 424 F.2d 243, 246-47 (10th Cir. 1970) (en banc) (concluding there

was no coercion where verdict reached forty minutes after receiving instruction).

In any event, the amount of time spent by the jury deliberating in this case after

the giving of the instruction most certainly does not support an inference of

coercion. In this case, the jury deliberated almost as long after receiving the

instruction (two hours and twenty minutes) as it did before reaching impasse

(three hours).

      Finally, Banuelos agues that the giving of the Allen instruction in this case

after the jury had begun deliberating and reached an impasse rendered the charge

unduly coercive. It is certainly true that this court has repeatedly expressed a

preference that Allen instructions be given along with all other jury instructions

and before the jury has reached an impasse. See, e.g., Arney, 248 F.3d at 989;

United States v. Smith, 857 F.2d 682, 684 (10th Cir. 1988); Munroe, 424 F.2d at

246. There is, however, no per se rule against the giving of an Allen instruction

under circumstances such as in this case. See Arney, 248 F.3d at 989. In light of

the even-handed nature of the Allen instruction given by the district court and the

length of the jury’s deliberations after the giving of the charge, this court

concludes that the timing of the instruction did not render it unduly coercive.

Accordingly, this court concludes that the district court did not err in giving the

Allen instruction at issue in this case.

                                           -9-
B.    Refusal to Give an Entrapment Instruction

      Banuelos contends the district court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on

the defense of entrapment. The district court denied Banuelos’ request for an

entrapment instruction on the ground that “there’s been insufficient evidence

presented for the jury to find in the defendant’s favor on an entrapment theory.”

“[W]hether there is evidence sufficient to constitute a triable issue entrapment is a

question of law” subject to de novo review. United States v. Ortiz, 804 F.2d

1161, 1164 (10th Cir. 1986).

      This court has summarized the defense of entrapment and the showing a

defendant must make to be entitled to such an instruction as follows:

             The entrapment defense exists to “protect an otherwise
      unpredisposed defendant from governmental coercion[,] . . . rais[ing]
      the issue of whether the criminal intent originated with the defendant
      or with government agents.” [Ortiz, 804 F.2d at 1165] A defendant
      is “entitled to an entrapment instruction whenever there is sufficient
      evidence from which a reasonable jury could find entrapment.”
      Mathews v. United States, 485 U.S. 58, 62, 108 S. Ct. 883, 99
      L.Ed.2d 54 (1988). “For the purposes of determining the sufficiency
      of the evidence to raise the jury issue, the testimony most favorable
      to the defendant should be accepted.” United States v. Reyes, 645
      F.2d 285, 287 (5th Cir. 1981); see also Ortiz, 804 F.2d at 1164. The
      defendant must show, either by presenting his own evidence or by
      pointing to evidence presented by the government in its case-in-chief,
      his lack of predisposition to commit the crime and “government
      involvement and inducement.” Ortiz, 804 F.2d. at 1164-65. [Where a
      defendant] did not present a defense, we must examine the
      government’s evidence to determine whether sufficient facts existed
      to support an entrapment instruction.

United States v. Scull, 321 F.3d 1270, 1275 (10th Cir. 2003).

                                         -10-
      This court concludes that because Banuelos failed to identify evidence upon

which a jury could conclude that government agents induced him to sell crack

cocaine, 5 the district court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on the

question of entrapment. Before the district court, Banuelos asserted that because

the government agents targeted him, an entrapment instruction is appropriate. He

repeats that same assertion on appeal. See Appellant’s Brief at 6 (“The evidence

established that the government targeted Mr. Banuelos. The government

approached Mr. Banuelos without invitation and encouraged him to sell crack

cocaine.”). As this court has made clear, however, “[e]vidence that a government

agent solicited, requested or approached the defendant to engage in criminal

conduct, standing alone, is insufficient to constitute inducement. Inducement also

will not be shown by evidence that the government agent initiated the contact

with the defendant or proposed the crime.” Ortiz, 804 F.2d at 1165 (citation

omitted). In fact, as set out above, when the agents first approached Banuelos he

had crack cocaine to sell. The quality was so inferior, however, that the agents

feared that their cover would be blown if they purchased the crack cocaine.

Accordingly, the agents purchased $1200 worth of heroin instead. Because

      5
       Because this court concludes that Banuelos failed to identify sufficient
evidence of inducement to submit the question of entrapment to the jury, we need
not consider whether Banuelos identified sufficient evidence of lack of
predisposition.

                                          -11-
Banuelos has failed to identify any “persuasion, fraudulent representations,

threats, coercive tactics, harassment, promises of reward, or pleas based on need,

sympathy or friendship,” he has failed to create a triable issue on the question of

entrapment. Id.; see also id. (“To establish a triable issue, the defendant must

point to evidence that is more than flimsy or insubstantial.” (quotation omitted)).

C.    Sentencing Enhancement for Possessing a Firearm

      U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) provides that if a dangerous weapon, including a

firearm, was possessed in connection with a drug offense, the defendant’s offense

level is to be increased by two levels. “The adjustment should be applied if the

weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was

connected with the offense.” U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, cmt. n.3; United States v.

Humphrey, 208 F.3d 1190, 1210 (10th Cir. 2000) (quoting application note).

“The initial burden is on the government to prove possession of the weapon by a

preponderance of the evidence, which may be satisfied by showing mere

proximity to the offense.” Humphrey, 208 F.3d at 1210 (quotation omitted).

“After the government has met this burden, a defendant can still avoid the

enhancement if he can prove that it is clearly improbable that the weapon was

connected to the offense.” Id.

      The entirety of Banuelos’ argument regarding the propriety of the

§ 2D1.1(b)(1) adjustment is the following: “The government failed to meet its

                                         -12-
burden. Furthermore, Mr. Banuelos has shown that it is clearly improbable that

the weapon was connected to the offense.” Appellant’s Brief at 7. This argument

is clearly insufficient. See Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(9)(A) (providing that an

appellant’s brief must contain “appellant’s contentions and the reasons for them,

with citations to the authorities and parts of the record on which the appellant

relies”); Bailey v. Big Sky Motors, Ltd. (In re Ogden), 314 F.3d 1190, 1197 n.4

(10th Cir. 2002) (“[W]e are reluctant to consider arguments that do not contain

legal support for their contentions.”). “Nevertheless, we proceed with the

discussion of this issue only ‘[t]o avoid any appearance that we are sacrific[ing]

substantive justice on the altar of administrative convenience.’” Bailey, 314 F.3d

at 1197 n.4 (quoting LINC Fin. Corp. v. Onwuteaka, 129 F.3d 917, 922 (7th Cir.

1997)). 6

       In his objection to the Presentence Investigative Report, Banuelos simply

asserted that the gun found in the Acoma apartment was not his and that there was

no evidence that he had ever used or handled the gun. Banuelos argued that

because the government had failed to prove that he had ever “handled,

brandished[,] or used” the gun, the § 2D1.1(b)(1) adjustment was not proper.

      Although this court will proceed to the merits of this issue, we specifically
       6

admonish counsel for his failure to comply with Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(9)(A).

                                         -13-
      In response, the government noted that Banuelos’ objection was based on a

misunderstanding of § 2D1.1(b)(1). Contrary to Banuelos’ assertions, the

government noted that it was not required to prove that Banuelos “handled,

brandished[,] or used” the gun. Instead, it merely needed to demonstrate

Banuelos possessed the weapon, which it could do by showing mere proximity of

the gun to the drug offenses. Humphrey, 208 F.3d at 1210. With regard to the

question of possession, the government noted the statement of a confidential

source on December 11, 2001. During a debriefing with police officers, the

confidential source indicated that Banuelos had a gun in the Acoma apartment,

that the gun was kept in a soft case on a chair, that he had seen the gun on

numerous occasions, and that the gun was easily accessible. When agents

eventually executed a search warrant on the Acoma apartment, they found a

firearm in a soft case on a chair located in the living room. Because Banuelos

had not adduced any evidence demonstrating that it was clearly improbable the

firearm was connected to the offenses of conviction, the government asserted the

§ 2D1.1(b)(1) adjustment was proper.

      After a hearing on Banuelos’ objection, the district court agreed with the

government and concluded that the § 2D1.1(b)(1) adjustment was proper.

According to the district court,

            The search warrant that was executed establishes that the
      agents found a loaded .357 Magnum revolver in a chair located in the

                                         -14-
      living room. The revolver was in a soft gun case, which is what the
      confidential source had identified. And then, of course, there was
      cocaine inside the apartment, and the jury convicted Mr. Banuelos
      with possession of the cocaine and intent to distribute it.
             Under [Tenth Circuit precedent], the United States has met its
      burden in terms of the spatial and proximity requirements; therefore,
      I agree with Probation and the United States that the two-level
      enhancement for possession of a weapon under Sentencing Guideline
      2D1.1(b)(1) is appropriate. . . .

      On appeal, this court reviews “the district court’s interpretation of

§ 2D1.1(b)(1) de novo and [its] underlying factual findings for clear error.”

United States v. Dickerson, 195 F.3d 1183, 1188 (10th Cir. 1999). It is absolutely

clear that the district court employed the correct legal standard in analyzing

whether Banuelos was subject to the two-level adjustment set out in

§ 2D1.1(b)(1). Furthermore, the district court’s factual findings are well-

supported in the record and, therefore, are not clearly erroneous. As noted by the

district court, the government carried its initial burden of demonstrating Banuelos

possessed the firearm by demonstrating that Banuelos controlled the Acoma

apartment and by showing the proximity of the weapon to the offenses of

conviction. The burden thus shifted to Banuelos to demonstrate that the firearm

was not connected to the drug trafficking activities. Because he utterly failed to

carry that burden, this court concludes that the district court properly applied the

two-level adjustment set out in § 2D1.1(b)(1).

                                         -15-
D.    Sentencing Enhancement for Acting as an Organizer, Leader, Manager or
      Supervisor

      U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c) provides that “[i]f the defendant was an organizer,

leader, manager, or supervisor in any criminal activity [not involving more than

five people or otherwise extensive], increase [defendant’s offense level] by 2

levels.” The district court increased Banuelos’ offense level by two levels

pursuant to § 3B1.1(c), concluding that Banuelos supervised Ortiz. On appeal,

Banuelos asserts that the district court erred in applying § 3B1.1(c) because the

evidence at trial demonstrated that he and Ortiz were in a romantic relationship

and were equal partners in the distribution scheme.

      In concluding that Banuelos was subject to the two-level upward

adjustment set out in § 3B1.1(c), the district court found that Banuelos controlled

the distribution of drugs. In particular, the district court found that Banuelos and

Ortiz sold drugs together from the Acoma Apartment. Ortiz testified at trial that

Banuelos would get the drugs “ready for me in the morning, would call my cell

phone, and I would meet the customers.” Banuelos obtained the drugs and kept

the proceeds of the drug sales. Banuelos paid all the bills, including the rent on

the Acoma apartment. Based on these facts, the district court concluded that

Banuelos was a supervisor as that term is defined in United States v. Backas, 901

F.2d 1528 (10th Cir. 1990).

                                        -16-
      To qualify as a supervisor, “one needs merely to give some form of

direction or supervision to someone subordinate in the criminal activity.” Backas,

901 F.2d at 1530. Although this court reviews the district court’s factual findings

for clear error, the determination whether a defendant qualifies as a supervisor for

purposes of § 3B1.1(c) is a question of law subject to de novo review. United

States v. Albers, 93 F.3d 1469, 1487 (10th Cir. 1996). Upon de novo review, this

court concludes the district court correctly determined that Banuelos was a

supervisor of the drug activity for purposes of § 3B1.1(c). Banuelos obtained the

drugs and directed Ortiz as to how and when the drugs would be sold. He kept all

of the drug proceeds and paid for all of the expenses. Furthermore, when Ortiz

expressed hesitancy regarding further drug sales to the agents, it was Banuelos

who decided that the drug sales to the agents would continue. Thus, Banuelos

clearly gave some form of direction to Ortiz, an individual subordinate in the

criminal activity. Backas, 901 F.2d at 1530; United States v. Mandilakis, 23 F.3d

278, 280 (10th Cir 1994) (noting that in determining supervisor status, courts may

consider a defendant’s exercise of decision making authority, the nature of

participation in the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the claimed right to a

larger share of the proceeds, the degree of participation in planning or organizing

the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control

exercised over others).

                                         -17-
E.    Refusal to Depart Downward

      Banuelos moved the district court to depart downward from the applicable

sentencing range set out in the Sentencing Guidelines. In particular, Banuelos

argued that his criminal history category of VI, based on his status as a career

offender, 7 over-represented his prior criminal conduct. He further argued that his

case fell outside the heartland of the Guidelines because the Guidelines were

designed primarily to target “hardened dealers.” After cataloging Banuelos’

extensive criminal history, the district court denied the downward-departure

motion:

             When you look at the defendant’s criminal history, I agree with
      the government that there are simply no factors in this case that
      would cause the defendant’s career offender status to over-represent
      the seriousness of his criminal history or the likelihood of recidivism.
      Therefore, I find and conclude that this case is squarely within the
      heartland of cases and the guidelines and that a downward departure
      is not warranted.

      7
       The Sentencing Guidelines provide that
      A defendant is a career offender if (1) the defendant was at least
      eighteen years old at the time the defendant committed the instant
      offense of conviction; (2) the instant offense of conviction is a felony
      that is either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;
      and (3) the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of
      either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.
U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(a). Because Banuelos satisfied each of the criteria set out in
§ 4B1.1(a), his criminal history category was set at VI. Id. § 4B1.1(b) (“A career
offender’s criminal history category in every case under this subsection shall be
Category VI.”).

                                         -18-
      Banuelos recognizes that “[c]ourts of appeal cannot exercise jurisdiction to

review a sentencing court’s refusal to depart from the Guidelines, either upward

or downward, unless the court refused to depart because it interpreted the

Guidelines to deprive it of the authority to do so.” United States v. Fortier, 180

F.3d 1217, 1231 (10th Cir. 1999). Nevertheless, he asserts that this court “should

reconsider those precedents and find that the district court abused its discretion in

failing to downwardly depart.” Appellant Br. at 8. Contrary to Banuelos’

invitation, it is clear that this panel cannot disregard the rule set out in Fortier.

See United States v. Edward J., 224 F.3d 1216, 1220 (10th Cir. 2000) (“Under the

doctrine of stare decisis, this panel cannot overturn the decision of another panel

of this court barring en banc reconsideration, a superseding contrary Supreme

Court decision, or authorization of all currently active judges on the court.”

(quotations omitted)). The record reveals that the district court well-understood

its discretionary power to depart and simply concluded no departure was

warranted under the facts of this case. Thus, this court lacks jurisdiction to

review the district court’s refusal to depart downward. Fortier, 180 F.3d at 1231.

                                          -19-
                              IV. CONCLUSION

      For those reasons set out above, the judgment of conviction entered and the

sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the District of New

Mexico are hereby AFFIRMED. Banuelos’ appeal of the district court’s refusal

to depart downward from the applicable sentencing range is DISMISSED for lack

of appellate jurisdiction.

                                     ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                     Michael R. Murphy
                                     Circuit Judge

                                       -20-