Opinion ID: 678805
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attack on Aggravated Felony Portion of the Indictment

Text: 21 In his motion to dismiss, Smith also argued that proof of a prior aggravated felony conviction is an element of an offense under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1326(b)(2). 2 Because Smith's only aggravated felony conviction had been vacated by the state court, Smith argued in the motion that the district court should dismiss that part of the indictment which referenced the aggravated felony provision, Sec. 1326(b)(2). The district court rejected this argument when it denied the motion. 22 Subsequent to the proceedings in the district court, we decided United States v. Forbes, 16 F.3d 1294, 1297-1300 (1st Cir.1994), in which we held that Sec. 1326(b) does not establish a separate offense, but rather simply provides a sentence enhancement for those convicted under Sec. 1326(a) (the offense for reentry into the United States after being deported), who had been convicted of an aggravated felony before their deportation. That case controls the present issue. Section 1326(b)(2) is not a separate element of an offense and therefore, the vacation of Smith's underlying felony conviction cannot provide grounds for dismissal of the indictment. The district court's ruling must therefore be upheld. 23 Smith urges us to reconsider our holding in Forbes. We decline to upset that decision and, in any event, are not free to do so as a newly constituted panel. Broderick v. Roache, 996 F.2d 1294, 1298 (1st Cir.1993). Furthermore, we note that the district court prudently sentenced Smith as if his aggravated felony did not exist, by implementing a downward departure that, according to the court, in effect strips out the conviction that has been vacated. Thus, even if the district court had erred in refusing to dismiss the aggravated felony portion of the indictment, which it did not, that error would have been harmless because Smith was never sentenced on the allegedly erroneous count. United States v. Long, 894 F.2d 101, 108 (5th Cir.1990). 24 Affirmed.