Court Opinion

ID: 4019318
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-27 18:01:02.338828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:44.851809
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-41293      Document: 00513610954         Page: 1    Date Filed: 07/27/2016

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                    No. 15-41293
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                         United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                                FILED
                                                                            July 27, 2016
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                                           Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk
                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

VICTOR MENDOZA, also known as La Arana,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 7:15-CR-7-6

Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Victor Mendoza appeals his conviction and 60-month above-guidelines-
range sentence imposed following his guilty plea to conspiracy to transport
illegal aliens within the United States.
       Mendoza has abandoned his claims that the district court erred in
enhancing his sentence based on his leadership role in the conspiracy and the
endangerment of the transported aliens because he has failed to brief these

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
    Case: 15-41293     Document: 00513610954    Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/27/2016

                                 No. 15-41293

issues. See FED. R. APP. P. 28(a)(8)(A); United States v. Conlan, 786 F.3d 380,
394 n.45 (5th Cir. 2015).
      Mendoza’s argument that his offense level should not have been
enhanced based on his being held accountable for transporting at least 81
undocumented aliens is without merit.           There was sufficient reliable
uncontroverted evidence in the presentence report to support the district
court’s determination that Mendoza directed the smuggling operation and that
he was responsible for the relevant conduct of the other participants who
transported at least 81 aliens under his direction. See United States v. Alaniz,
726 F.3d 586, 619 (5th Cir. 2013); United States v. Williams, 610 F.3d 271, 292
(5th Cir. 2010).     The district court did not clearly err in making this
enhancement. Williams, 610 F.3d at 292.
      Because Mendoza did not object in the district court to his above-
guideline sentence being unreasonable, review of that claim is for plain error.
See United States v. Peltier, 505 F.3d 389, 391-92 (5th Cir. 2007). The district
court considered the mitigating arguments of counsel, Mendoza’s allocution,
the uncontroverted evidence in the PSR demonstrating Mendoza’s role in the
offense, and the relevant 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. There is no indication
that the district court failed to consider a factor that should have received
significant weight, gave significant weight to an irrelevant or improper factor,
or made a clear error in balancing the § 3553(a) factors. See United States v.
Chandler, 732 F.3d 434, 437 (5th Cir. 2013). In light of the totality of the
circumstances, the extent of the upward variance was justified and was not
substantively unreasonable. See United States v. Gerezano-Rosales, 692 F.3d
393, 401 (5th Cir. 2012). Mendoza has not shown that the district court plainly
erred in imposing the 60-month term of imprisonment. See Puckett v. United
States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009).

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                                No. 15-41293

      Nor has Mendoza carried his burden of showing that the district court
plainly erred in failing to find that the Government breached the plea
agreement. United States v. Roberts, 624 F.3d 241, 246 (5th Cir. 2010). In
resolving whether a breach occurred, this court considers whether the
Government’s conduct was “consistent with the defendant’s reasonable
understanding of the agreement.” United States v. Hinojosa, 749 F.3d 407, 413
(5th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
      In the plea agreement, the Government agreed to recommend a two-level
reduction for acceptance of responsibility and to dismiss the remaining counts
in the indictment and superseding indictment. The Government complied with
those terms and made no other promises in the plea agreement. Mendoza has
not demonstrated that the Government made any other promises regarding his
sentence or any guidelines enhancements in the plea agreement. He has not
shown that the district court plainly erred in failing to find that the
Government breached the plea agreement. Roberts, 624 F.3d at 246; Puckett,
556 U.S. at 135.
      Mendoza’s conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED.

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