Court Opinion

ID: 221558
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-07-21 23:23:54+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:50.765450
License: Public Domain

Case: 10-10899     Document: 00511547708         Page: 1     Date Filed: 07/21/2011

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                            July 21, 2011
                                     No. 10-10899
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

CARLOS OTERO,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 4:10-CR-62-2

Before KING, JOLLY, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Carlos Otero appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea
conviction for conspiracy to make a false statement during the acquisition of a
firearm. He argues that the district court erred in denying him a reduction in
his offense level for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.
He contends that he admitted purchasing four firearms for a codefendant; that
he knew the codefendant was a convicted felon who could not own firearms; and
that he did not deny additional relevant conduct.

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 10-10899    Document: 00511547708      Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/21/2011

                                  No. 10-10899

      The district court’s denial of a reduction in Otero’s offense level for
acceptance of responsibility was not “without foundation.” See United States v.
Juarez-Duarte, 513 F.3d 204, 211 (5th Cir. 2008). Because Otero did not present
any evidence to rebut the information in the Presentence Report (PSR), the
district court was entitled to rely on that information. See United States v. Ruiz,
621 F.3d 390, 396 (5th Cir. 2010). The PSR supports a finding that Otero falsely
denied knowing that his girlfriend, Lauren Reynolds, assisted Gabino Tovias in
purchasing firearms and recruiting people to purchase firearms; therefore, the
district court did not err in concluding that he acted in a manner inconsistent
with acceptance of responsibility. See U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment. (n.1(a)) (2009
version); see also United States v. Angeles-Mendoza, 407 F.3d 742, 753 (5th Cir.
2005); see also United States v. Cabrera, 288 F.3d 163, 175-77 (5th Cir. 2002).
      Otero further contends that the sentence imposed by the district court was
substantively unreasonable, given that he was not a leader or an organizer; no
one was harmed during the conspiracy; he had never been convicted of a violent
offense or felony prior to the instant conviction; he was married and supported
his family; and he was an honest, hardworking, and very dependable employee.
The district court considered Otero’s arguments and determined that a 37-month
within-guidelines sentence was appropriate in view of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
factors.   Otero’s disagreement with the district court’s balancing of the
sentencing factors is insufficient to rebut the presumption of reasonableness that
attached to his 37-month within-guidelines sentence. See United States v.
Cisneros-Gutierrez, 517 F.3d 751, 766-67 (5th Cir. 2008).
      AFFIRMED.

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