United States v. Patrick Rodriguez

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States v. Patrick Rodriguez, 591 F. App'x 289 (5th Cir. 2015)

United States v. Patrick Rodriguez

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Patrick Rene Rodriguez appeals his guilty plea conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for which he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release. He contends that his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary because the district court violated Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b)(1)(G) and (I) by failing to properly advise him of the mandatory minimum sentence.

Rodriguez raised no Rule 11 error in the district court. Accordingly, review is for plain error. See United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 59, 122 S.Ct. 1043, 152 L.Ed.2d 90 (2002). The district court is required to ensure the defendant understands the nature of the charge to which he is pleading and any mandatory minimum penalty. Fed. R.Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(G), (I). Rodriguez was sentenced to the mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). The district court correctly and consistently advised Rodriguez that he faced a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence. The record does not support Rodriguez’s arguments that he was misled by the alternative minimum sentences set forth in the enhancement *290 information and plea agreement or the Government’s promise to pursue only one prior felony drug conviction for statutory enhancement purposes. Even if Rodriguez could demonstrate plain error, he cannot show “a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea.” United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83, 124 S.Ct. 2333, 159 L.Ed.2d 157 (2004); see also United States v. Alvarado-Casas, 715 F.3d 945, 954-55 (5th Cir. 2013), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 950, 187 L.Ed.2d 814 (2014).

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the.court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Sir. R. 47.5.4.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Patrick Rene RODRIGUEZ, Also Known as Patrick Rene Rodrigez, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished