United States v. Gonzalez-Rodriguez

* 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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 03-40435
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MANUEL GONZALEZ-RODRIGUEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. M-02-CR-578-1
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Before BARKSDALE, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Manuel Gonzalez-Rodriguez pleaded guilty, pursuant to a
written agreement, to aiding and abetting the possession with
intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B).
He appeals the 46-month sentence imposed by the district court.
For the first time on appeal, Gonzalez argues that the
district court erred by “rejecting” his plea agreement at
sentencing without giving him proper notice and a chance to
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
June 22, 2004
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk

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No. 03-40435
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withdraw his plea. This argument is factually frivolous because
the district court did not reject Gonzalez’ plea agreement.
Instead, the district court merely rejected the Government’s
recommendation, contained in the plea agreement, that Gonzalez
be sentenced at the low end of the applicable guideline range.
Gonzalez has not shown error, plain or otherwise, with respect
to this issue. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-34
(1993); United States v. Calverley, 37 F.3d 160, 162-64 (5th Cir.
1994) (en banc).
Gonzalez also argues for the first time on appeal that
the district court erred in sentencing him at the top of the
applicable guideline range. Because the district court imposed
a sentence from within the applicable guideline range and
that sentence was not in violation of law, the district court
did not abuse its discretion in selecting Gonzalez’ sentence.
See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B); United States v. Matovsky, 935 F.2d
719, 721 (5th Cir. 1991).
AFFIRMED.

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