United States v. Rocha-Dozal

481 F. Supp. 2d 628, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95898, 2006 WL 4447638
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedJune 16, 2006
Docket6:06-cv-00310
StatusPublished

This text of 481 F. Supp. 2d 628 (United States v. Rocha-Dozal) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Rocha-Dozal, 481 F. Supp. 2d 628, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95898, 2006 WL 4447638 (W.D. Tex. 2006).

Opinion

ORDER

CARDONE, District Judge.

On this day, the Court considered Defendant Daniel Rocha-Dozal’s (“Defendant”) sentencing in the above-captioned cause. For the reasons set forth below, this Court finds that the appropriate sentencing guideline in this case is United States Sentencing Guideline section 5G1.3(c) (“U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c)”).

*630 I. BACKGROUND

On October 10, 2005, United States Border Patrol Agents (“USBP Agents”) observed a group of subjects walking north of the United States-Mexieo border in an area known for alien smuggling in Fabens, Texas. EP-05-CR-2849-FM Presentence Investigation Report ¶ 4 (“05 PSR”). USBP Agents observed these subjects entering a 1996 Ford Taurus owned by Defendant’s sister. Id. at ¶¶ 5, 6. After watching the vehicle travel along a local road, the USBP Agents conducted an immigration stop on the vehicle and questioned its occupants. Id.

The vehicle contained four female passengers who admitted to being Mexican citizens and nationals without documents to properly enter or remain within the United States. Id. at ¶ 5. USBP Agents questioned the driver, Defendant, who admitted that he knew the passengers were illegal aliens. Id. at ¶ 6. Defendant told the USBP Agents that while he was at a store purchasing cigarettes in Caseta, Chihuahua, an unknown male approached him and offered him money to transport the undocumented aliens to a Good Time store in Fabens. Id. at ¶¶ 6, 9. The unknown male told Defendant that the aliens would be waiting for him on the United States side of the Rio Grande River. Id. at ¶ 9. Thereafter, Defendant was to return to Caseta and collect the fee. Id.

In connection with this offense, on December 6, 2005, Defendant pled guilty to one charge of Transporting Aliens for Profit in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) & (B)(i). Id. ¶¶ 1-2. Defendant was released on bond pending his sentencing, which was to occur on February 22, 2006. Id. ¶ 3. However, before sentencing could occur, USBP Agents again arrested Defendant in Fabens on February 2, 2006. Id.

On February 2, 2006, USBP Agents conducted a traffic stop of a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina parked on the shoulder of Interstate-10 near Fabens. EP-06-CR-310KC Presentence Investigation Report ¶ 4 (“06 PSR”). The vehicle contained five occupants consisting of two citizens and nationals of Honduras, two citizens and nationals of Mexico, and Defendant. Id. at ¶ 5. The Mexican nationals indicated that they had made arrangements with an unknown individual in Mexico to be smuggled into the United States. Id. at ¶ 6. They were instructed to hide in an area north of the Rio Grande River, and that the only person that would be in the area would be the individual responsible for transporting them into the United States. Id. One of the nationals indicated that Defendant approached the area where they were hiding and opened the doors to the vehicle. Id.

Defendant initially claimed that the four individuals approached him, seeking a ride from Fabens to El Paso, and also that he had no idea that they were illegal aliens. Id. at ¶ 7. Later, he recanted these statements and claimed that his friend, Javier Hernandez (“Hernandez”), asked him to pick up four individuals near a convenience store in Fabens. Id. Defendant indicated that he believed the four individuals were undocumented immigrants and he intended to transport them to another convenience store in El Paso and later meet Hernandez to discuss his fee. Id.

On February 22, 2006, Defendant received the sentence for his December 6, 2005 plea. 05 PSR. Defendant’s total offense level was 12. Id. at ¶22. This consisted of a base level of 12, in accord with U.S.S.G. § 2L1.1(a)(2), with no further adjustments. Id. at ¶¶ 14-22. Defendant was also placed in criminal history category IV, resulting in a guideline imprisonment range of 21 to 27 months. Id. at ¶ 50. The sentencing court imposed a 27 month imprisonment term. EP-05 *631 CR-2349-FM Judgment in a Criminal Case.

During Defendant’s sentencing, the sentencing court was made aware of Defendant’s intervening arrest. Second Addendum to Presentence Report Ex. 1 (“Second Addendum to PSR Ex. 1”). However, the sentencing judge declined to consider the intervening arrest in sentencing Defendant for the December 6, 2005 plea, choosing instead to reserve that matter for the second sentencing. Second Addendum to PSR Ex. 1 3:19, 6:4-11. The sentencing court did, however, make an initial guess as to what might occur during that sentencing. Second Addendum to PSR Ex. 1 3:19, 6:4-11.

Thereafter, on February 28, 2006, Defendant pled guilty to one count of Transporting Aliens for Private Financial Gain in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) & (B)(i). 06 PSR ¶2. Sentencing was scheduled to take place on May 25, 2006. 06 PSR. Shortly before sentencing, Defendant’s attorney filed objections to the 06 PSR, arguing that Defendant’s sentence is governed by U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(b) because Defendant’s two offenses are part of the same relevant conduct under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2), and that therefore this Court is required to impose a concurrent sentence. The Government contends that Defendant’s sentence is governed by U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c), and that therefore this Court may, but is not required to, impose a concurrent sentence.

II. DISCUSSION

A district court generally has broad discretion in choosing to sentence a defendant to a consecutive or concurrent sentence. United States v. Johnson, 40 F.3d 1079, 1082 (10th Cir.1994) (citing 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(a), 3584(a), & 3584(b)). This discretion, however, is limited by § 5G1.3 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines when the court seeks to impose a sentence upon a defendant who is subject to an undischarged term of imprisonment. Id. Specifically, § 5G1.3 provides:

(a) If the instant offense was committed while the defendant was serving a term of imprisonment (including work release, furlough, or escape status) or after sentencing for, but before commencing service of, such term of imprisonment, the sentence for the instant offense shall be imposed to run consecutively to the undischarged term of imprisonment.

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Bluebook (online)
481 F. Supp. 2d 628, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95898, 2006 WL 4447638, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-rocha-dozal-txwd-2006.