United States v. Humberto Betancourt

Fifth Circuit

United States v. Humberto Betancourt

868 F.2d 1410, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 4181, 1989 WL 25020

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

DecidedMarch 23, 1989

Docket88-3835

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 868 F.2d 1410 (United States v. Humberto Betancourt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

United States v. Humberto Betancourt, 868 F.2d 1410, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 4181, 1989 WL 25020 (5th Cir. 1989).

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Opinion

PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:

Humberto Betancourt pled guilty to conspiring to transport stolen vehicles in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On appeal, he challenges only his sentence. He contends that he was entitled to a reduction in his offense level because he was a minor or minimal participant in his crime. Finding no error in the sentence imposed, we affirm.

Betancourt and several co-defendants were indicted for participation in an interstate auto theft ring. The indictment charged Betancourt with driving one of his co-defendants to the site of the auto theft, and later picking up the same co-defendant and driving him home after the theft was complete. Betancourt contends that his participation in the conspiracy was minor or minimal, and that he should therefore have received a reduction to his offense level. See Guideline 3B1.2. In support of this argument, Betancourt contends that the indictment charges members of the conspiracy with several thefts, but only mentions Betancourt as a driver in connection with one theft.

We have held that minor participant status is a factual determination, and enjoys the protection of the “clearly erroneous” standard. That factual determination turns upon culpability. Culpability is a determination requiring sensitivity to a variety of factors. United States v. Buenrostro, 868 F.2d 135, 138, 139 (5th Cir.1989).

In this case, the district judge found that Betancourt was not a minor or minimal participant. The judge expressly stated that he thought Betancourt no less culpable than the average participant in the conspiracy. The judge pointed to evidence that Betancourt was well aware of the scope of the auto-theft conspiracy he was aiding by serving as a driver. This evidence provides clear support for the judge’s conclusions with respect to Betancourt’s lack of minor participant status. Following Buenrostro, we affirm.

The judgment of the district court is, in all respects,

AFFIRMED.

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PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:

Humberto Betancourt pled guilty to conspiring to transport stolen vehicles in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On appeal, he challenges only his sentence. He contends that he was entitled to a reduction in his offense level because he was a minor or minimal participant in his crime. Finding no error in the sentence imposed, we affirm.

Betancourt and several co-defendants were indicted for participation in an interstate auto theft ring. The indictment charged Betancourt with driving one of his co-defendants to the site of the auto theft, and later picking up the same co-defendant and driving him home after the theft was complete. Betancourt contends that his participation in the conspiracy was minor or minimal, and that he should therefore have received a reduction to his offense level. See Guideline 3B1.2. In support of this argument, Betancourt contends that the indictment charges members of the conspiracy with several thefts, but only mentions Betancourt as a driver in connection with one theft.

We have held that minor participant status is a factual determination, and enjoys the protection of the “clearly erroneous” standard. That factual determination turns upon culpability. Culpability is a determination requiring sensitivity to a variety of factors. United States v. Buenrostro, 868 F.2d 135, 138, 139 (5th Cir.1989).

In this case, the district judge found that Betancourt was not a minor or minimal participant. The judge expressly stated that he thought Betancourt no less culpable than the average participant in the conspiracy. The judge pointed to evidence that Betancourt was well aware of the scope of the auto-theft conspiracy he was aiding by serving as a driver. This evidence provides clear support for the judge’s conclusions with respect to Betancourt’s lack of minor participant status. Following Buenrostro, we affirm.

The judgment of the district court is, in all respects,

AFFIRMED.

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868 F.2d 1410, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 4181, 1989 WL 25020, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-humberto-betancourt-ca5-1989.

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