Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rafael VILLALOBOS, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-08-17
Citations: 140 F. App'x 579
Docket Number: No. 04-40175
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rafael VILLALOBOS, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before BENAVIDES, CLEMENT, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 140
Pages: 579–580

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rafael VILLALOBOS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-40175.
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Aug. 17, 2005.
James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
Guillermo Ruben Garcia, Laredo, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BENAVIDES, CLEMENT, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Rafael Villalobos appeals from his guilty-plea conviction of reentry of a deported alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) and 6 U.S.C. § 202, 557. He argues that the "felony" and "aggravated felony" provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (2) are unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000).
As Villalobos concedes, his argument that the sentencing provisions in 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional was rejected in Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres. See Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 489-90, 120 S.Ct. 2348. This court must follow the precedent set in Almendarez-Torres unless the Supreme Court overrules it. See United States v. Rivera, 265 F.3d 310, 312 (5th Cir.2001). Villalobos's argument is foreclosed.
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Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.