Court Opinion

ID: 18588
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:16:53+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:01.106239
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                        _________________

                                           No. 98-20724
                                         Summary Calendar
                                        _________________

                UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                versus

                LUIS FERNANDO MONTENEGRO,

                                               Defendant-Appellant.

                           Appeal from the United States District Court
                               for the Southern District of Texas
                                        (H-98-CR-21-1)

                                         September 2, 1999

Before JOLLY, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

       Luis Fernando Montenegro appeals his conviction and sentence for possession with the intent

to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. §

2. We affirm.
       Montenegro argues that the ineffectiveness of his trial counsel rendered his guilty plea

involuntary. Specifically, he contends that his counsel was ineffective for failing to move to suppress

the cocaine found in the truck he was driving at the time of his arrest. Alternatively, Montenegro

challenges his sentence on several grounds. He asserts that the district court erred in enhancing his

sentence by two levels for reckless endangerment during flight. The district court further erred, he

asserts, when it denied his request for a four-level downward adjustment pursuant to U.S.S.G.

   *
     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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
§ 3B1.2 owing to his role as a minimal part icipant in the offense. Alternatively, he argues that he

should have received a two-level reduction pursuant to this guideline to reflect his minor role in the

offense. He further contends that the district court ought to have granted him a two-level downward

adjustment pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(6). Lastly, he urges that the district court erroneously

denied him a downward departure.

       Montenegro did not raise his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in the district court.

Consequently, the record is not adequately developed to permit a fair review of this contention. The

record, for example, contains no evidence of his counsel’s reasons for failing to file a motion to

suppress. See United States v. Chavez-Valencia, 116 F.3d 127, 134 (5th Cir. 1997) (record not

sufficiently developed when it contained no evidence of defense counsel’s reason for failing to file a

motion to suppress).

       Also raised for the first time on appeal is Montenegro’s claim that the district court erred in

enhancing his sentence for reckless endangerment during flight. Accordingly, it is reviewed only for

plain error. See United States v. Dupre, 117 F.3d 810, 817 (5th Cir. 1997). This court may correct

a forfeited error only when an appellant shows the following factors: (1) there is an error, (2) that is

clear or obvious, and (3) that affects his substantial rights. See id. In his efforts to avoid capture,

Montenegro drove recklessly on crowded streets and bit a civilian who attempted to detain him.

Therefore, the enhancement for reckless endangerment was not plainly erroneous. See U.S.S.G. §

3C1.2, comment. (n.2); U.S.S.G. § 2A1.4, comment. (n.1).

       Nor did the district court err in refusing to grant Montenegro a downward adjustment

pursuant to § 3B1.2 for his mitigating role in the offense. We review a sentencing court’s factual

determination that a defendant did not play a minimal or minor role in the offense for clear error. See

United States v. Zuniga, 18 F.3d 1254, 1261 (5th Cir. 1994). The defendant bears the burden of

showing that he should receive a downward adjustment. See United States v. Atanda, 60 F.3d 196,

198 (5th Cir. 1995).

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       First, Montenegro contends that he should have received a four-level adjustment to reflect

his minimal role in the offense. To be considered a minimal participant, the defendant must show that

he is “plainly among the least culpable of those involved.” United States v. Gadison, 8 F.3d 186, 197

(5th Cir. 1993). The court adopted the findings in the pre-sentence report, which recommended

against the downward adjustment in light of the fact that Montenegro was being held accountable

solely for the sixty-one kilograms of cocaine in his possession and not for the acts of others. The

district court did not err in concluding that Montenegro failed to prove that he was plainly among the

least culpable of those involved in transporting the cocaine found in his possession.

       Second, Montenegro argues that he should have received a two-level adjustment to reflect

his minor ro le in the offense. However, he did not raise this contention in the district court.

Accordingly, it is reviewed only for plain error. See Dupre, 117 F.3d at 817. Given that sixty-one

kilograms of cocaine were found in Montenegro’s possession, the district court did not plainly err in

denying this adjustment. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment. (n.2); United States v. Hare, 150 F.3d
419, 427 (5th Cir. 1998); United States v. Brown, 54 F.3d 234, 241 (5th Cir. 1995).

       Equally unavailing is Montenegro’s contention that the district court erroneously denied him

a two-level reduction pursuant to § 2D1.1(b)(6). Given Montenegro’s violent efforts to avoid

capture and his refusal to disclose any information regarding the drug-trafficking enterprise, including

information concerning the passenger in his truck, the district court did not clearly err in concluding

that he had failed to satisfy all the criteria set forth in U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. See U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2;

United States v. Vasquez, 161 F.3d 909, 910 (5th Cir. 1998); United States v. Willis, 559 F.2d 443,

444 n.5 (5th Cir. 1977).

       Lastly, Montenegro argues that the district court should have granted him a downward

departure in light of his willingness to concede deportation. This court lacks jurisdiction to consider

this claim, however. The district court clearly indicated at the sentencing hearing that, even if it had

the authority to depart based on Montenegro’s willingness to concede deportation, it would not do

                                                  -3-
so. See United States v. Brace, 145 F.3d 247, 263 (5th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 426

(1998).

          Accordingly, Montenegro’s conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED.

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