Court Opinion

ID: 3017653
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:17:49.795255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:06.477433
License: Public Domain

___________

                                        No. 96-1534
                                        ___________

United States of America,                     *
                                              *
              Appellee,                       *
                                              *     Appeal from the United States
     v.                                       *     District Court for the
                                              *     Southern District of Iowa.
Francisco Javier Chavira                      *
                                              *           [UNPUBLISHED]
              Appellant.                      *

                                        ___________

                      Submitted:        November 12, 1996

                             Filed:     November 22, 1996
                                        ___________

Before BOWMAN, MAGILL, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.
                               ___________

PER CURIAM.

     Francisco      Javier    Chavira     and      a   codefendant   were   charged    with
conspiring to possess cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute
(Counts I and II), in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (1994), and possessing
cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute (Counts III and IV), in
violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (1994) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (1994).
Chavira pleaded guilty to Count III.              The District Court1 sentenced him to
46 months imprisonment and four years supervised release.

     On appeal, Chavira's appointed counsel moved to withdraw and filed
a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), discussing
whether   Chavira    was     entitled    to   a     two-level   reduction    as   a   minor
participant under United States Sentencing

      1
       The Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff, United States District
Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.
Guidelines Manual § 3B1.2(b) (1995).   We granted counsel leave to withdraw.
Although Chavira was granted leave to file a pro se supplemental brief, he
did not do so.

     Because Chavira did not object to the presentence report or at
sentencing, we review the District Court's failure to grant Chavira a minor
participant reduction for plain error resulting in a miscarriage of
justice.   See United States v. Fritsch, 891 F.2d 667, 668 (8th Cir. 1989).
We find no such error and conclude this issue lacks even arguable merit,
as Chavira has pointed to no facts entitling him to the reduction.      See
U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3B1.2, comment. (n.3) (1995) (defining
minor participant as "any participant who is less culpable than most other
participants, but whose role could not be described as minimal"); United
States v. Thompson, 60 F.3d 514, 517 (8th Cir. 1995) (defendant bears
burden of proving entitlement to minor participant reduction).      In fact,
we believe the record indicates Chavira was deeply involved in the drug
distribution scheme.    See United States v. West, 942 F.2d 528, 531 (8th
Cir. 1991).

     We have reviewed the record in accordance with Penson v. Ohio, 488
U.S. 75, 80 (1988), and find no nonfrivolous issue for appeal.

     Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

     A true copy.

              Attest:

                   CLERK, U. S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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