Case ID: f-appx_85/html/0356-01.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. Javier ALVAREZ-GUTIERREZ, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 03-50497
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Dec. 22, 2003.
    Diane D. Kirstein, Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant US Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Luden B. Campbell, Federal Public Defender, M. Carolyn Fuentes, Federal Public Defender’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before BARKSDALE, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Javier Alvarez-Gutierrez appeals his sentence for illegal reentry into the United States following removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. He argues that the district court erred in imposing a 16-level increase in his offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A) based on his prior aggravated assault conviction. He argues that the Sentencing Commission intended that the 16-level increase should be applied only to those crimes of violence that are also aggravated felonies under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43). Under the plain language of U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A) and its comments, a 16-level increase applies if the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of violence, which expressly includes an aggravated assault. See U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A) and comment. (n.l(B)(ii)(II)). Neither U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A) nor the comment refers to 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43) or provides that a crime of violence must also be an aggravated felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43). Accordingly, the district court did not err in imposing the 16-level increase based on Alvarez’s prior aggravated assault conviction.

Alvarez argues that his sentence exceeds the statutory maximum sentence for the offense of illegal reentry into the United States as charged in the indictment in view of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). He acknowledges that the argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), but seeks to preserve it for possible Supreme Court review. Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres. See Apprendi 530 U.S. at 489-90. This court must therefore follow the precedent set in 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).

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.