Case ID: f-appx_169/html/0863-01.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. Ruben DE LEON-GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 04-41705.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided March 6, 2006.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Marjorie A. Meyers, Federal Public Defender, Philip G. Gallagher, Federal Public Defender’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before BARKSDALE, STEWART and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Ruben De Leon-Garcia appeals his sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b) for illegal re-entry into the United States after having been deported following conviction for an aggravated felony. For the following reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

For the first time on appeal, De Leon-Garcia asserts that the district court’s belief during sentencing that the United States Sentencing Guidelines were mandatory, rather than advisory, is reversible error under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). He asserts that we should review the Fanfan error de novo. He also suggests that the error is structural, or at least presumptively prejudicial. However, we have firmly established that the plain error standard of review applies to a forfeited Fanfan error. See United States v. Valenzuela-Quevedo, 407 F.3d 728, 732 (5th Cir.2005) (citing United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 513-14 (5th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 267, 163 L.Ed.2d 240 (2005) (No. 04-9517)), cert, denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 267, 163 L.Ed.2d 240 (2005) (No. 05-5556). The error is not structural, and prejudice is not presumed. United States v. Martinez-Lugo, 411 F.3d 597, 600-01 (5th Cir.2005), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 464, 163 L.Ed.2d 352 (2005) (No. 05-6242). Accordingly, these arguments are foreclosed.

In the alternative, De Leon-Garcia asserts that he is entitled to a reversal under the plain error standard. However, the Fanfan error did not affect his substantial rights. See United States v. Bringier, 405 F.3d 310, 317 n. 4 (5th Cir.2005), cert. denied,, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 264, 163 L.Ed.2d 238 (2005) (No. 05-5535); United States v. Garcia-Rodriguez, 415 F.3d 452, 456 (5th Cir.2005). Therefore, he has failed to demonstrate plain error. See Valenzuela-Quevedo, 407 F.3d at 732-33.

Finally, De Leon-Garcia asserts that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s decision in Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), controls this issue. We must follow Almendarez-Torres “unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule it.” United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984 (5th Cir.2000). Accordingly, this issue is also foreclosed.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       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.