United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Roman Dominguez, Defendant-appellant, 133 F.3d 929 (9th Cir. 1998)

MEMORANDUM^* 

Roman Marcel Dominguez appeals the 33-month sentence imposed after his guilty plea to importing marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960 and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (1). He contends that the district court erred by finding that he was a minor but not a minimal participant in the criminal activity. We affirm.

We review for clear error the district court's finding whether a defendant was a minor or minimal participant. See United States v. Felix, 87 F.3d 1057, 1061 (9th Cir. 1996). A minimal participant is one who is "plainly among the least culpable of those involved in the conduct of a group." U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment. (n.1); see id., comment. (n.2) (adjustment appropriate when defendant recruited for single smuggling transaction involving small amount of drugs).

Dominguez drove a Jeep containing about 75 pounds of marijuana across the border from Mexico. He told a customs agent that his friend Lalo asked him to take the marijuana from Tijuana to Santa Ana. Dominguez was to keep the drugs at his home while he sought further instructions from Lalo. In exchange, he was to receive $1,000 and the Jeep.

Dominguez contends that he was a minimal participant because he was only a courier and was vulnerable to recruitment in a smuggling enterprise because of his heroin addiction and history of depression. This contention lacks merit. Dominguez was trusted with responsibility; he knowingly imported the marijuana and planned to keep it at his home. See United States v. Davis, 36 F.3d 1424, 1437 (9th Cir. 1994). Accordingly, the district court did not clearly err by finding that Dominguez was a minor but not a minimal participant. See Felix, 87 F.3d at 1061.

AFFIRMED.