Opinion ID: 152980
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Claim of Improper Increase in the Maximum Sentence for a Prior Felony Conviction

Text: The maximum penalty for the offense for which Bonilla stands convicted is increased from two years to ten years if the defendant committed a felony offense prior to removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1). Bonilla concedes that the Supreme Court has determined that a maximum sentence may be increased on the basis of a prior conviction without the need to plead the conviction in the indictment or prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. See Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 234-35, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). We, of course, have followed that precedent. See, e.g., United States v. Snype, 441 F.3d 119, 148 (2d Cir.2006). In opposing the motion for summary affirmance, Bonilla states the following: While it is true that the prior conviction exception to Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), is binding precedent in the Supreme Court and this Court, Bonilla is still permitted to seek to overturn the precedent. Even though this Court is powerless to do so, Bonilla raises the issue in this Court merely to preserve it for review by the Supreme Court. As Bonilla concedes, his appeal on the issue is without legal substance and is totally meritless. Although Bonilla asserts that this argument is not frivolous because it is made to preserve the issue for review by the Supreme Court, that is beside the point. Clear legal precedentSupreme Court precedentdictates the defeat of his claim that a prior felony conviction must be pleaded, proved, or admitted to. In any event, Bonilla may raise the issue in a certiorari petition to the Supreme Court, challenging summary affirmance just as he could on appeal from an affirmance following full briefing. Accordingly, the argument advanced on this point also must be classified as frivolous for putting forth a totally meritless legal argument.