Case ID: f-appx_169/html/0411-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Antonio ALTATO-PUES, also known as Lucho Gatica-Rodriguez, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 04-41682.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided March 1, 2006.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Oscar A. Vela, Jr., Law Offices of Oscar A. Vela Jr., Laredo, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before JOLLY, DAVIS and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Antonio Altato-Pues (Altato) appeals the sentence imposed upon his guilty-plea conviction for transporting illegal aliens via motor vehicle into the United States. See 8 U.S.C. § 1324. Altato argues that under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), the district court was not authorized to increase his sentence based on its factual finding that he recklessly endangered the lives of his alien passengers. Both the Government and Altato contest whether Altato admitted the facts supporting the reckless endangerment adjustment. However, neither party provided this court with a transcript of the rearraignment proceeding. Absent the transcript, this court cannot review this claim. See e.g., United States v. Holmes, 406 F.3d 337, 366 & n. 49 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 375,163 L.Ed.2d 163 (2005).

The district court, however, committed “Fanfan” error by sentencing Altato pursuant to a mandatory guidelines scheme. See United States v. Walters, 418 F.3d 461, 463-64 (5th Cir.2005). The Government concedes that Altato preserved his Fanfan claim. As such, this court reviews the claim for harmless error. See Walters, 418 F.3d at 464. This court has rejected the argument that a Fanfan error is structural. See Walters, 418 F.3d at 463.

There is no indication in the record that the district court would have imposed the same sentence had the guidelines been advisory rather than mandatory. The Government has not satisfied its burden of showing that the district court’s Fanfan error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See Walters, 418 F.3d at 463-64. Accordingly, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with Booker.

This court need not address at this time Altato’s remaining argument challenging the district court’s denial of his request for a downward departure. See United States v. Akpan, 407 F.3d 360, 377 n. 62 (5th Cir.2005).

SENTENCE VACATED AND REMANDED. 
      
       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.