United States v. Damien Mingarelli

MEMORANDUM

Damien M. Mingarelli appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 80-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to launder proceeds of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (h). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Mingarelli contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing to appreciate its discretion to vary downward from the Guidelines on policy grounds under Kimbrough v. United States, 552 U.S. 85 , 128 S.Ct. 558 , 169 L.Ed.2d 481 (2007). We review for plain error, see United States v. Ayala-Nicanor, 659 F.3d 744, 746-47 (9th Cir.2011), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 1941 , 182 L.Ed.2d 797 (2012), and find none. The record reflects that the district court recognized, but chose not to exercise, its Kimbrough discretion to vary from the Guidelines based on a reasonable policy disagreement with the Guidelines’ treatment of Oxycodone. See id. at 752.

Mingarelli also contends that the district court clearly erred when it applied a four-level aggravating role enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(a). The record reflects that the district…