Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roger SALINAS, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-09-23
Citations: 108 F. App'x 216
Docket Number: No. 04-20059
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roger SALINAS, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before EMILIO M. GARZA, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 108
Pages: 216–217

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Roger SALINAS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-20059.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Sept. 23, 2004.
James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Timothy William Crooks, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Roland E. Dahlia, II, Federal Public Defender, Brent Evan Newton, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before EMILIO M. GARZA, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Roger Salinas appeals from his convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute MDMA and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute MDMA.
Salinas first argues that the district court erred by not considering conduct associated with a sentence imposed prior to his commission of the instant offense to be relevant conduct. We review the district court's application of the guidelines de novo and its factual determinations for clear error. See United States v. Ocana, 204 F.3d 585, 588 (5th Cir.2000).
To be considered "relevant conduct," conduct must be "part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction." U.S.S.G. § lB1.3(a)(2) (2003). However, conduct associated with a sentence imposed prior to the commission of the instant offense is "not part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction." U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3, comment. (n.8). We do not find this note plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the guidelines. We also are persuaded that the Presentence Report ("PSR") provided a sufficient and reliable evidentiary basis to conclude that Salinas's prior offense conduct was not part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the instant offense of conviction. See United States v. Cabrera, 288 F.3d 163, 172 (5th Cir.2002) (if PSR contains sufficient evidentiary basis and indicia that information is reliable, absent rebuttal evidence, district court may adopt PSR's findings without further inquiry). Salinas also challenges, for the first time, the constitutionality of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 846 in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). As Salinas concedes, his Apprendi argument is foreclosed by United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 582 (5th Cir.2000).
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is 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.