Court Opinion

ID: 9881717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-03 18:00:38.719027+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:17.778601
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-10349       Document: 00516917218             Page: 1      Date Filed: 10/03/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                    ____________
                                                                             United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                      Fifth Circuit
                                     No. 23-10349
                                   Summary Calendar                                 FILED
                                   ____________                               October 3, 2023
                                                                               Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                        Clerk

                                                                    Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                           versus

   Gilberto Salvador Cortez-Garcia,

                                             Defendant—Appellant.
                    ______________________________

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 4:22-CR-328-1
                    ______________________________

   Before Jones, Southwick, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Gilberto Salvador Cortez-Garcia appeals his sentence for illegal
   reentry into the United States after being removed, in violation of 8 U.S.C.
   § 1326(a) and (b)(1). He argues that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) is unconstitutional

          _____________________
          *
              Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
   should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set
   forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
Case: 23-10349      Document: 00516917218           Page: 2     Date Filed: 10/03/2023

                                     No. 23-10349

   because it allows a sentence above the otherwise applicable statutory
   maximum established by § 1326(a) based on facts that are neither alleged in
   the indictment nor found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. However, he
   correctly concedes that this argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v.
   United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), and he raises this issue merely to preserve
   it for further review. See United States v. Pervis, 937 F.3d 546, 553-54 (5th
   Cir. 2019). The Government has moved, without opposition, for summary
   affirmance, or in the alternative, for an extension of time to file a brief on the
   merits.
          Because summary affirmance is appropriate, see Groendyke Transp.,
   Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), the Government’s motion
   for summary affirmance is GRANTED, the Government’s alternative
   motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED, and the district
   court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

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