United States v. Arturo Monzon-Munoz

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Arturo Monzon-Munoz, 550 F. App'x 428 (9th Cir. 2013)
Goodwin, Wallace, Graber

United States v. Arturo Monzon-Munoz

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Arturo Monzon-Munoz appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 68-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Monzon-Munoz contends that, because he was merely a courier, the district court *429 erred in denying him a minor role adjustment pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). The district court did not clearly err. See United, States v. Rodriguez-Castro, 641 F.3d 1189, 1192 (9th Cir. 2011). Because the record reflects that Monzon-Munoz knowingly transported 3,592 kilograms of marijuana across the border, he failed to establish that he was substantially less culpable than the average participant. See id. at 1193 (“We have recognized that possession of a substantial amount of narcotics is grounds for refusing to grant a sentence reduction.”) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Monzon-Munoz next contends that the district court failed to consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors, and that the resulting sentence was substantively unreasonable. The record reflects that the court properly considered the section 3553(a) factors. The district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing those factors, and in light of the totality of the circumstances, the within Guidelines sentence is substantively reasonable. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586,169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007).

Finally, the government is not precluded by the plea agreement or the doctrines of judicial or equitable estoppel from arguing in support of the sentence imposed by the district court. See Rodriguez-Castro, 641 F.3d at 1192.

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Arturo MONZON-MUNOZ, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished