Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrew SMITH, a.k.a. Lennox Cross, a.k.a Lennoy Cross, a.k.a. Paul Jones, a.k.a. Garfield Thomas, a.k.a. Biggs, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-11-01
Citations: 494 F. App'x 947
Docket Number: No. 11-14893
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrew SMITH, a.k.a. Lennox Cross, a.k.a Lennoy Cross, a.k.a. Paul Jones, a.k.a. Garfield Thomas, a.k.a. Biggs, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before TJOFLAT, KRAVTTCH and EDMONDSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 494
Pages: 947–949

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrew SMITH, a.k.a. Lennox Cross, a.k.a Lennoy Cross, a.k.a. Paul Jones, a.k.a. Garfield Thomas, a.k.a. Biggs, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 11-14893
Non-Argument Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
Nov. 1, 2012.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, Chad E. Kauffman, Anne Ruth Schultz, Madeleine R. Shirley, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Miami, FL, Brandy Brentari Galler, U.S. Attorney’s. Office, West Palm Beach, FL, for Plaintiff-Appel-lee.
Bruce E. Reinhart, Bruce E. Reinhart, PA, West Palm Beach, FL, for Defendant Appellant.
Before TJOFLAT, KRAVTTCH and EDMONDSON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Andrew Smith appeals his 80-month sentence for illegal reentry into the United States following a previous deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2). On appeal, Smith contends that the district court erred by imposing an enhanced sentence based on a felony conviction that was not set forth in the indictment and not found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. He recognizes that Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), decided that a prior conviction is not an element of the offense under section 1326(b); but he argues that Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), and Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004) have called the validity of Almendarez-Torres into question. We affirm Smith's sentence.
We review constitutional sentencing issues de novo. United States v. Steed, 548 F.3d 961, 978 (11th Cir.2008). In Air mendarez-Toms, the Supreme Court explained that a prior conviction used to enhance a sentence under section 1326(b)(2) is no element of the offense, and therefore, it need not be alleged in the indictment or found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 226-27, 118 S.Ct. at 1222. Although Apprendi and later decisions might have cast doubt on the reasoning of Almendarez-Torres, we have repeatedly explained that Almendarez-Torres remains binding precedent unless and until that case is expressly overruled by the Supreme Court. Steed, 548 F.3d at 979-80; United States v. Greer, 440 F.3d 1267, 1273-76 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Gibson, 434 F.3d 1234, 1246-47 (11th Cir.2006).
Smith's argument that the district court erred by enhancing his sentence based on an earlier conviction not charged in the indictment or proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres. See Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 226-27, 118 S.Ct. at 1222. Accordingly, we affirm Smith's sentence.
AFFIRMED.