United States v. Luis Gonzalez-Meza

MEMORANDUM

Luis Antonio Gonzalez-Meza appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 84-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for importation of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Gonzalez-Meza contends that the district court committed three legal errors in denying his request for a minor role adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). He contends that the court: (i) failed to consider his relative culpability; (ii) failed to take into account his lack of actual knowledge of the drugs in his car or the structure and operations of the smuggling operation; and (iii) improperly relied on drug quantity in denying the adjustment. We review de novo, see United States v. Rodriguez-Castro, 641 F.3d 1189, 1192 (9th Cir.2011), and find no legal error in the denial of the request. The record reflects that the court considered Gonzalez-Meza’s relative culpability, as required by section 3B1.2(b), see U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) & cmt. n. 3(A), and gave appropriate consideration to his level of knowledge regarding the drugs and the drug smuggling operation. The court’s consideration…