United States v. Alvarez

                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT


                         __________________

                            No. 95-20032
                          Summary Calendar
                         __________________



     UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                        Plaintiff-Appellee,

                               versus

     JAVIER ANEIDER ALVAREZ,

                                        Defendant-Appellant.

           ______________________________________________

      Appeal from the United States District Court for the
                   Southern District of Texas
                         (CR-H-94-195-2)
         ______________________________________________

                          April 18, 1996
Before SMITH, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Javier Aneider Alvarez argues that the district court clearly

erred in denying him an adjustment for his minor role in the

offense.

     We have reviewed the record and the briefs of the parties and

find no reversible error.   In so concluding we note that the fact

that a codefendant is more culpable does not automatically qualify

a defendant for either minor or minimal participant status.    See


*
 Pursuant to Local Rule 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opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under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 Local Rule 47.5.4.
United States v. Thomas, 963 F.2d 63, 65 (5th Cir. 1992).   Further,

the district court is not required to accept a defendant's self-

serving statements about his role in the offense. United States v.

Brown, 54 F.3d 234, 241 (5th Cir. 1995).    Appellant's admissions

that he had transported a significant amount of drugs and that he

was responsible for picking up the funds due in a drug deal worth

one-half million dollars indicates that he was a trusted member of

a drug organization rather than a mere courier.   See United States

v. Thomas, 963 F.2d at 65.

AFFIRMED.




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