UNITED STATES v. RUIZ BURANDT (2018)

MEMORANDUM **

Yadira Elizabeth Ruiz-Burandt appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 60-month sentence imposed upon remand following her guilty-plea conviction for importation of cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Ruiz-Burandt contends that the district court misapplied the minor role Guideline, U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, by inventing a hypothetical “average participant” and defining that participant in such a way as to categorically preclude a minor role adjustment for all drug couriers. We review the district court’s interpretation of the Guidelines de novo, and its application of the Guidelines to the facts for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Gasca-Ruiz, 852 F.3d 1167, 1170 (9th Cir. 2017) (en banc).

The record reflects that the district court acknowledged its obligation to compare Ruiz-Burandt to known and likely co-participants in the offense and conducted that comparison. See United States v. Quintero-Leyva, 823 F.3d 519, 523 (9th Cir. 2016). Having done so, the court concluded, based on the facts of this particular case, that Ruiz-Burandt was not “substantially less culpable than the average participant in the criminal activity.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.3(A). Contrary to Ruiz-Burandt’s argument, nothing in the record suggests that the court’s approach to the minor role determination resulted in a categorical exclusion of drug couriers from eligibility for an adjustment. The court applied the correct legal standard and, in light of the totality of the circumstances, did not abuse its discretion by denying the adjustment. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.3(C).

AFFIRMED.