Filed: Mar. 25, 2010
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED _ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEVENTH CIRCUIT MARCH 25, 2010 No. 09-14772 JOHN LEY Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 07-00279-CR-CAP-25 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MARTIN MAGANA-BERNAL, Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia _ (March 25, 2010) Before TJOFLAT, WILSON and PRYOR, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Martin
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED _ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEVENTH CIRCUIT MARCH 25, 2010 No. 09-14772 JOHN LEY Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 07-00279-CR-CAP-25 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MARTIN MAGANA-BERNAL, Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia _ (March 25, 2010) Before TJOFLAT, WILSON and PRYOR, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Martin M..
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
MARCH 25, 2010
No. 09-14772
JOHN LEY
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 07-00279-CR-CAP-25
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MARTIN MAGANA-BERNAL,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia
_________________________
(March 25, 2010)
Before TJOFLAT, WILSON and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Martin Magana-Bernal appeals his sentence of 121 months of imprisonment
following his plea of guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at
least five kilograms of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), 846; 18 U.S.C. § 2,
and money laundering,
id. § 1956(h). Magana-Bernal argues that he was entitled
to a two-level reduction for his minor role in the conspiracy. We affirm.
The presentence investigation report stated that Magana-Bernal guarded one
of several stash houses used by a large-scale drug organization that imported into
Georgia more than 8000 kilograms of cocaine and exported to Mexico more than
155 million dollars in proceeds. The report attributed to Magana-Bernal the 70
kilograms of cocaine received at the stash house while he worked for the
organization. The report listed a total offense level of 34 and, because Magana-
Bernal had a criminal history of I, the report provided a sentencing range between
151 and 188 months of imprisonment.
Magana-Bernal objected to the report on two grounds. Magana-Bernal
argued that he was entitled to a reduction for a minor role because he was a
“caretaker” instead of a guard of the stash house. Magana-Bernal also argued that
he was responsible only for 46 kilograms of cocaine because he was incarcerated
when 24 kilograms of cocaine were received at the stash house.
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The district court overruled Magana-Bernal’s objection about the minor role
but sustained his objection about the amount of cocaine. The district court
calculated Magana-Bernal’s total offense level at 32 and a guideline range
between 121 and 151 months of imprisonment. The district court imposed a
sentence at the low end of the guideline range and five years of supervised release.
Magana-Bernal was not entitled to a minor role reduction. Although
Magana-Bernal was not a leader of the conspiracy, his role was not minor. See
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, cmt. n.5. Magana-Bernal willingly joined a large-scale
conspiracy to distribute cocaine; he was responsible for guarding a stash house
that received 70 kilograms of cocaine for distribution and processed
approximately $818,500 in drug proceeds; and he participated in at least two
transfers of drug proceeds.
Magana-Bernal argues the district court reduced the amount of drugs for
which he was held responsible from 70 to 46 kilograms to “fit a preconceived
sentencing formula,” but we disagree. The district court reduced the amount of
drugs attributable to Magana-Bernal to reflect the actual quantity processed at the
stash house while he was “in charge.” The district court did not clearly err by
finding that Magana-Bernal did not qualify for a reduction in his sentence.
Magana-Bernal’s sentence is AFFIRMED.
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