United States v. Bustos , 191 F. App'x 797 ( 2006 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
August 16, 2006
TENTH CIRCUIT Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee, No. 05-3464
v. (D.C. No. 04-CR-40159-RDR)
EM IG DIO HERNANDEZ BUSTOS, (D . Kan.)
Defendant-Appellant.
OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *
Before KELLY, M cK AY, and L UCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to honor the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f). The case is therefore submitted without oral
argument.
Appellant pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute
4.55 kilograms of a mixture containing methamphetamine, a violation of 21
U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). His conviction arose from a traffic stop on I-70 in Kansas
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
where packages of methamphetamine were found in a false compartment in the
minivan he was driving.
Appellant argues that he is entitled to a four-level reduction for minimal
role in the offense, under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. The district court refused to apply
any reduction for a mitigating role at his sentencing hearing and memorialized
this ruling in a M emorandum and Order. M emorandum and Order (D. Kan.
Dec. 2, 2005).
“W e review sentences imposed by the district court for reasonableness.”
United States v. Galarza-Payan, 441 F.3d 885, 887 (10th Cir. 2006). The trial
court’s determination of a defendant’s role in the offense is treated as a factual
finding and is therefore subject to review under the “clearly erroneous” standard.
United States v. Santistevan, 39 F.3d 250, 253 (10th Cir. 1994) (quotation
omitted). The district court’s finding that Appellant “was actively involved in the
transportation of the controlled substances” is supported by the evidence.
M emorandum and Order, 3. He was not a mere courier, but rather someone who
sought to obtain and transport the drugs across the country. To accomplish this,
he purchased a van and stored the drugs in a false compartment. W e agree that
“[t]hese activities show far more involvement than merely driving the drugs to a
location” and do not support a finding of minimal involvement. Id.Appellant also argues that his sentence was not reasonable under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a). Specifically, he argues that, because his co-defendant received a 48-
-2-
month sentence, Appellant’s sentence of 100 months was unreasonable and
disparate. First, the district court’s sentence of Appellant was thirty-five months
below the Guidelines range. Second, the district court acknowledged and
carefully considered the disparity between the sentences of Appellant and his co-
defendant: “[T]he court has considered the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing
disparities among defendants who have been found guilty of similar conduct and
the need to provide restitution to any victims of the offense.” Id. at 5. W e
conclude that the district court’s sentence of 100 months reflects consideration for
disparity.
W e have carefully reviewed the briefs of Appellant and Appellee, the
district court’s disposition, and the record on appeal, and for substantially the
sam e reasons as the district court stated in its order of December 2, 2005, we
A FFIR M Appellant’s sentence. W e also deny Appellant’s renewed motion to
produce the presentence report of his co-defendant for the reasons stated in the
district court’s order of January 18, 2006, which was w ritten in response to
Appellant’s first motion for this request.
Entered for the Court
M onroe G. M cKay
Circuit Judge
-3-