Opinion ID: 778379
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: enhanced sentence based upon court's finding of aggravated felony convictions

Text: 45 Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), Jimenez contends that his sentence should be vacated because the district court used his prior aggravated felony convictions to increase his sentence beyond the statutory maximum under 8 U.S.C. section 1326(a). However, Defendant concedes that this Court has explicitly rejected this argument in United States v. Pacheco-Zepeda, 234 F.3d 411, 414 (9th Cir.2000). Thus, Jimenez's challenge to his sentence based upon Apprendi is without merit. 7 46 The district court's use of Jimenez's aggravated felony convictions to increase his sentence was not plain error.