Flores

MEMORANDUM **

William B. San Miguel Flores appeals his eight-month sentence following his guilty plea conviction for conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (h). Flores argues that the district court judge should have recused himself under 28 U.S.C. § 455 (a), which requires that any judge “disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Because we find that there was no bias, or appearance of bias, on behalf of the district court, we affirm.

We reject Flores’s argument that the district court judge demonstrated bias during the sentencing hearing by making remarks regarding corruption in Guam. “[Ojpinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior proceedings, do not constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 , 114 S.Ct. 1147 , 127 L.Ed.2d 474 (1994). During the sentencing hearing, the district court’s statements regarding the political corruption in Guam stemmed from the two…