Opinion ID: 160393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mr. De La Fuente’s Prior Conviction

Text: Mr. De La Fuente challenges on two grounds the district court’s use of a 1988 federal court conviction for importing marijuana. First, he argues that the conviction does not constitute an “aggravated felony” under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2). He then contends that the district court erred in applying the definition of an “aggravated felony” that was not in effect at the time of the prior conviction. These arguments are not supported by the law of this circuit. Under § 1326(b)(2), a longer sentence may be imposed upon an alien who reenters the United States after a conviction of “an aggravated felony” (i.e., imprisonment not more than twenty years, compared to imprisonment for not more than ten years for unlawful reentry after three or more misdemeanor convictions and imprisonment for not more than two years for unlawful reentry absent a criminal record). The definition of an “aggravated felony” set forth in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43) includes “illicit trafficking in a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of Title 21), including a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 924(c) of Title 18).” 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B), In turn, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) defines a drug trafficking crime to include “any felony punishable under the Controlled Substance Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. § 951 et seq.).” 18 17 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2). That definition of a “drug trafficking crime” defeats Mr. De La Fuente’s first challenge to the prior conviction. As the government notes, the importation of marijuana is punishable under the Controlled Substance Import and Export Act, particularly 21 U.S.C. § 952. Thus, the district court properly concluded that Mr. De La Fuente had been convicted of a drug trafficking crime. Mr. De La Fuente’s second challenge (based on the retroactive application of the definition of an “aggravated felony”) is foreclosed by this circuit’s decision in United States v. Aranda-Hernandez , 95 F.3d 977 (10th Cir. 1996). There, we held that the § 1326(b)(2) aggravated felony enhancement applies to “all past aggravated felonies, regardless of the date committed.” Id. at 983. We explained that the definition of the term “aggravated felony” that should be applied to a particular case is the definition in effect at the time of the unlawful reentry, rather than the definition in effect at the time the aggravated felony was committed. Application of the sentencing enhancement to past aggravated felonies does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause because the act being punished is the reentry rather than the original felony. Id. We therefore conclude that the district court properly relied on Mr. De La Fuente’s prior conviction for importing marijuana in increasing his sentence. 18