United States v. Perez
United States v. Perez
Opinion of the Court
Defendant Joseph Eclavea Perez appeals the sentence imposed following his conviction, after a jury trial, for distribution of heroin, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); possession of heroin with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); and felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
The court sentenced Defendant based on a drug quantity higher than that charged in the indictment, and the record before us does not show that the parties stipulated to that amount. Also, Defendant’s sentence was adjusted upward under U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(a) based on the judge’s finding that Defendant was an “organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive.”
Accordingly, we VACATE Defendant’s sentence and REMAND for resentencing in a manner consistent with United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 738, 755-56, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), and United States v. Ameline, 400 F.3d 646 (9th Cir. 2005).
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. We vacated Defendant’s conviction for use of a firearm during drug trafficking, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), because the government did not prove that Defendant "used” the firearm. United States v. Perez, 129 F.3d 1340 (9th Cir. 1997) (per curiam).
. Another adjustment, for possession of a dangerous weapon, U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1), was based directly on the jury’s finding that Defendant was a felon in possession of a firearm.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.