Case ID: f-appx_214/html/0477-01.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. Jose Rodolfo ALVAREZ-GOMEZ, also known as Jose Rudy Alvarez, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 06-50003
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Jan. 24, 2007.
    
      Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    M. Carolyn Fuentes, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Defendani>-Appellant.
    Before KING, HIGGINBOTHAM, and GARZA, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Jose Rodolfo Alvarez-Gomez appeals his 70-month sentence and his guilty-plea conviction for being in the United States unlawfully after removal, in violation 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Alvarez argues that his sentence was unreasonable because the district court misunderstood its authority to impose a sentence below the advisory guidelines range.

The record demonstrates that the district court was aware of Alvarez’s family circumstances, that it knew that it had discretion after Booker to depart when it thought reasonable, and that the district court did not find a reason to depart from the advisory guidelines range. Its statement that it would depart if there was an “exceptional reason” was not error. See United States v. Smith, 440 F.3d 704, 706-07 (5th Cir.2006) (explaining that a court must have a reason to sentence outside of a properly-calculated Guidelines range).

Although Alvarez does not challenge the district court’s calculation of his advisory guidelines sentencing range, he further argues that the sentence imposed was unreasonable because the district court failed to take into account the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Under the discretionary sentencing scheme established by United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), district courts retain the duty to consider the Sentencing Guidelines along with the sentencing factors set forth in § 3553(a). United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 518-19 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 43, 163 L.Ed.2d 76 (2005). Alvarez’s sentence is within the advisory guidelines range and is presumptively reasonable. See United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 553-55 (5th Cir.2006). We infer in our reasonableness review that the district court considered the § 3553(a) factors in imposing sentence. See Smith, 440 F.3d at 706-07; Alonzo, 435 F.3d at 554.

Alvarez argues that, in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), his prior aggravated felony conviction for manufacture/delivery of cocaine, 1 to 4 grams, is a separate offense under § 1326 that should have been charged in his indictment, submitted to the jury, and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Because the 2001 felony conviction was not included in his indictment, argues Alvarez, he was subject only to a two-year maximum term of imprisonment as set forth in § 1326(a).

Alvarez properly concedes that this argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for further review. Although Alvarez contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that the Supreme Court might overrule AlmendarezTorres in light of Apprendi, we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005).

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.