United States v. Brown

186 F. App'x 442

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

David Brian Brown appeals his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school. As part of his plea agreement, Brown signed a waiver provision wherein he specifically consented to be sentenced under the applicable United States Sentencing Guidelines. The Government seeks enforcement of that waiver.

“[A] defendant who agreed ‘to be sentenced pursuant to the applicable Sentencing Guidelines’ is not precluded from raising on appeal an alleged Fanfan error.” United States v. Reyes-Celestino, 443 F.3d 451, 453 (5th Cir.2006). Accordingly, the waiver provision does not bar Brown’s appeal.

For the first time on appeal, Brown argues that the district court erred when it sentenced him pursuant to the mandatory Sentencing Guidelines held unconstitutional in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Application of the Sentencing Guidelines in their mandatory form constitutes error that is plain. United States v. Valenzuela-Quevedo, 407 F.3d 728, 733 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 267, 163 L.Ed.2d 240 (2005). However, nothing in the record indicates that the district court would have imposed a different sentence if it had known that it was not bound by the Sentencing Guidelines. Accordingly, the district court’s error did not affect Brown’s substantial rights. See id. at 733-34. Brown, therefore, has not established reversible plain error.

Brown also argues that the plea agreement should be invalidated because the Government breached the agreement by refusing to move for a downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the Government had the “sole and exclusive” authority to determine whether Brown provided substantial assistance warranting the filing of a motion for downward departure. Accordingly, Brown’s contention that the Government breached the plea agreement by refusing to exercise its discretion is without merit. See United States v. Aderholt, 87 F.3d 740, 742 (5th Cir.1996).

AFFIRMED.

* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.