United States v. Ajuria ( 2003 )


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  •                                                                                      United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    F I L E D
    April 25, 2003
    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
    Charles R. Fulbruge III
    Clerk
    No. 02-20831
    Summary Calendar
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
    Plaintiff-Appellee,
    versus
    ERIC ALEJANDRO AJURIA,
    Defendant-
    Appellant.
    --------------------------------------------------------
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Southern District of Texas
    USDC No. H-01-CR-907-2
    --------------------------------------------------------
    Before JONES, STEWART and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM:*
    Eric Alejandro Ajuria (Ajuria) appeals his sentence, which was imposed following his
    guilty-plea convictions for conspiring to possess and aiding and abetting possession with intent to
    distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of
    methamphetamine. He argues that the district court erred by increasing his offense level by two for
    possession of a dangerous weapon pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) because, when the offenses
    *
    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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
    published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
    occurred, he had no criminal history or prior experience in drug trafficking and, thus, he could not
    have foreseen his codefendant’s use or possession of a firearm.
    We review for clear error the district court’s determination that a gun was possessed during
    a drug offense warranting a two-level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). See United States v.
    Chavez, 
    119 F.3d 342
    , 348 (5th Cir. 1997). Undercover officers observed Ajuria on October 30,
    2001, in connection with a drug transaction. On November 9, 2001, Ajuria and his coconspirators
    were jointly engaged in selling a large quantity of drugs from Ajuria’s vehicle. Officers recovered a
    firearm from the floorboard where one of the coconspirators was sitting in Ajuria’s vehicle. We
    conclude that it was not clear error for the district court to apply the enhancement for possession of
    a firearm. See United States v. Thomas, 
    120 F.3d 564
    , 574 (5th Cir. 1997); United States v. Wilson,
    
    105 F.3d 219
    , 221 (5th Cir. 1997).
    AFFIRMED.
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