United States v. Jose Garcia-Vasquez

MEMORANDUM

Defendant-Appellant Jose Rene Garcia-Vasquez (Garcia-Vasquez) appeals his convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 and importation of methamphetamine under 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960, arguing that the evidence at trial was insufficient to sustain either conviction. He also appeals the district court’s denial of an acceptance-of-responsibility adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 and challenges the substantive reasonableness of his 87-month sentence. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.

Border agents stopped Garcia-Vasquez at the Calexico Port of Entry as he attempted to drive his car from Mexico into California. During the stop, the agents discovered 10.38 pounds of 99.4%-pure methamphetamine, worth over $100,000, in dollar-bill-sized containers lining a compartment under the car. The agents also found a one-way Greyhound bus ticket from Los Angeles to Tijuana, dated four days before the stop, in the glove box. Garcia-Vasquez was the driver, registered owner, and sole occupant of the car containing the drugs. A jury convicted Garcia-Vasquez of conspiracy to distribute…