United States v. Chavez-Magana

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
June 14, 2007
TENTH CIRCUIT Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 06-1472
SALVADOR CHAVEZ-MAGANA, also (D.C. No. 05-CR-391-F)
known as Javier Garcia-Magana, (D. Colorado)
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRISCOE, EBEL, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is, therefore,
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Defendant Salvador Chavez-Magana (Chavez-Magana) appeals his sentence of
135 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. Chavez-
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Magana pled guilty to knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute a
quantity of 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount
of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). He argues
that the district court committed plain error in failing to sua sponte grant him a two-level
reduction in his base offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 because he was a minor
participant in the crime for which he was convicted. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
I.
During the execution of a search warrant in August of 2004, special agents from
the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) discovered a concealed
compartment containing drugs in the basement of the residence where it was believed
Chavez-Magana was the sole occupant. The agents also found a firearm and ammunition
in Chavez-Magana’s residence.
Chavez-Magana was indicted in September of 2005 on one count of possession
with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a
detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and
841(b)(1)(A). In February of 2006, the government filed notice of its intent to rely on
sentence enhancement factors provided in 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 851. In July of
2006, Chavez-Magana pled guilty to the single count in his indictment pursuant to a plea
agreement with the government. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Chavez-Magana agreed
to plead guilty to the indictment, withdraw all pending motions, forfeit his interest in a
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firearm and ammunition found during the search of his premises, and provide the
government with information. In exchange, the government agreed to withdraw its
previously filed notice of intent to seek sentencing enhancements, recommend a sentence
at the lowest end of the applicable advisory guideline range, and evaluate the information
provided by Chavez-Magana for a potential departure motion pursuant to U.S.S.G. §
5K1.1 or 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e).
A presentence report (PSR) was filed and reported that after application of a
three-level adjustment for acceptance of responsibility, Chavez-Magana’s adjusted
offense level was 33 and his criminal history category was I, resulting in an advisory
guideline range of 135-168 months of imprisonment. Neither party filed objections to the
sentence guideline calculation set forth in the PSR.
At Chavez-Magana’s sentencing hearing, the government reported that it would
not move for a downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 or 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e)
because Chavez-Magana had not been “candid” in providing information and had
“misstated, if not worse, what the facts were.” Record on Appeal, Vol. IV at 5. The
government stated that Chavez-Magana “did admit only that he was in possession of the
methamphetamine” and the government “assume[d] there is someone out there expecting
payment or some form of compensation for those drugs.” Id. at 5-6. The court adopted
the unchallenged guideline calculation from the PSR and sentenced Chavez-Magana to
135 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.
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II.
Chavez-Magana concedes that his counsel failed to argue that he was entitled to a
two-level reduction as a minor participant pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. Instead, he
argues that the district court should have inferred from the government’s refusal to move
for a downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 that he was a minor participant in
the criminal activity investigated by the government. He claims that because he could not
provide sufficient information to assist the government’s investigation of a larger drug
conspiracy, the court should have inferred that he was a minor participant, who merely
stored drugs for someone else. In light of defense counsel’s and the government’s
statements regarding the application of § 5K1.1, he asserts that the district court should
have sua sponte applied § 3B1.2 to reduce his base offense level and that the court’s
failure to do so was unreasonable.
We review an alleged error in sentencing raised for the first time on appeal for
plain error. United States v. Whitney, 229 F.3d 1296, 1308 (10th Cir. 2000). “Plain error
occurs when there is (1) error, (2) that is plain, which (3) affects substantial rights, and
which (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” United States v. Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d 727, 732 (10th Cir. 2005). A
defendant bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that he is
entitled to a reduction in base offense level pursuant to § 3B1.2. United States v.
Onheiber, 173 F.3d 1254, 1258 (10th Cir. 1999).
The government argues that because § 3B1.2 is inapplicable to Chavez-Magana’s
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case, no error occurred and Chavez-Magana fails the first element of plain error review.
Section 3B1.2(b) permits a court to reduce a defendant’s base offense level by two levels
if “the defendant was a minor participant in any criminal activity.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b).
This section can apply to “a defendant who plays a part in committing the offense that
makes him substantially less culpable than the average participant.” United States v.
Salazar-Samaniega, 361 F.3d 1271, 1277 (10th Cir. 2004) (citing U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt.
n.3(A) (2002)). To determine whether a minor role reduction will apply, the district court
must “focus upon the defendant’s knowledge or lack thereof concerning the scope and
structure of the enterprise and the activities of others involved in the offense.” Id.
(citations omitted) (emphasis added). The commentary provides that “this guideline is
not applicable unless more than one participant was involved in the offense.” See
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, cmt. n.2 (2002); Salazar-Samaniega, 361 F.3d at 1277.
The government asserts that because Chavez-Magana was the only person charged
with or convicted of the offense at issue, this provision which necessarily requires a
comparison of culpability cannot apply here. In addition, the government argues that the
record contains no factual support for Chavez-Magana’s claims, which arise for the first
time on appeal, that other individuals were involved in the offense. The government
notes that Chavez-Magana pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine that was found
in the basement of a residence where he was the sole occupant. See United States v.
Patterson, 472 F.3d 767, 783 (10th Cir. 2006) (concluding that district court did not
clearly err in refusing to apply § 3B1.2 because there was no evidence presented that
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defendant was part of a drug distribution ring and the defendant was the owner and driver
of vehicle where drugs were found).
Finally, the government also argues that a district court’s decision to grant a
reduction in offense level under § 3B1.2 involves factual findings, which are subject to a
deferential standard of review on appeal. We have previously noted that “[w]hen a
factual issue is not raised below, there is no record on which to base our review” and held
generally that “questions of fact capable of resolution by the district court upon proper
objection at sentencing can never constitute plain error.” United States v. Bush, 405 F.3d
909, 922 (10th Cir. 2005) (quotations and citations omitted).
Although we do not agree with the government that a defendant who is the only
person charged or convicted in connection with a criminal operation is necessarily
ineligible for the minor participant adjustment, in this case there was no evidence that
other persons were involved in the offense to which Chavez-Magana pled guilty. We
therefore hold that § 3B1.2 cannot apply. Further, because Chavez-Magana failed to put
forth any evidence on this issue, there is no factual record for us to review to determine
whether he was entitled to a reduction in offense level pursuant to § 3B1.2. To the extent
Chavez-Magana argues that his sentence is unreasonable, we have held that a sentence
within the applicable guideline range is presumptively reasonable. United States v.
Terrell, 445 F.3d 1261, 1264 (10th Cir. 2006). Chavez-Magana has failed to rebut this
presumption.
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IV.
We AFFIRM the district court.
Entered for the Court
Mary Beck Briscoe
Circuit Judge
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