United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS April 2, 2004
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 03-50219
c/w No. 03-50220
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MIGUEL JIMENEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. SA-02-CR-326-ALL
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Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Miguel Jimenez appeals his convictions and sentences for
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000
kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of
the drug conspiracy, and using or carrying a firearm during and in
relation to a drug trafficking crime. He argues that the evidence
was insufficient to support his conviction under 18 U.S.C.
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 03-50219
c/w No. 03-50220
-2-
§ 924(c)(1) and that the district court erred in sentencing him to
ten years’ imprisonment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).
The evidence adduced at trial established that Jimenez’s role
within the drug conspiracy was to protect the organization’s
marijuana and drug proceeds. Additionally, Jimenez would make
marijuana deliveries and pick up money from customers at the
direction of Guillermo Recio. In order to fulfill his role,
Jimenez carried firearms, including a 9mm handgun. At the time of
his arrest, Jimenez had the 9mm handgun with him and was present in
a house where a large quantity of marijuana was found. The jury
could reasonably have inferred that Jimenez was present in the
house to protect marijuana on behalf of the Recio organization.
Therefore, the jury could reasonably have found that Jimenez used
or carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking
crime. See United States v. Ortega Reyna, 148 F.3d 540, 543 (5th
Cir. 1998); United States v. Laury, 49 F.3d 145, 151 (5th Cir.
1995).
The trial testimony also established that Jimenez discharged
the 9mm firearm on two occasions. Jimenez fired the weapon into
the air in the parking lot of a strip club in Memphis, Tennessee.
He also fired the weapon during the course of an attempted contract
killing in San Antonio. Therefore, the district court did not err
in applying 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).
AFFIRMED.