Court Opinion

ID: 35055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 19:23:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:58.641762
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                  April 21, 2004

                                                          Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                  Clerk
                            No. 03-41286
                        Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                    Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

GERARDO MENDOZA-AGUILAR, also known as Gerardo
Aguilar-Guzman,

                                    Defendant-Appellant.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                     USDC No. M-03-CR-391-1
                      --------------------

Before JOLLY, JONES, and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Gerardo Mendoza-Aguilar (“Mendoza”) appeals his guilty-plea

conviction for illegal re-entry following deportation.      Mendoza

argues that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) is unconstitutional in light of

Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000).     Mendoza argues

that, after Apprendi, it is apparent that a majority of the

Supreme Court now feels that Almendarez-Torres v. United States,

523 U.S. 224 (1998), was incorrectly decided.    He acknowledges

     *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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 CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
                           No. 03-41286
                                -2-

that his argument is foreclosed by circuit precedent, but he

raises this issue to preserve it for possible review by the

Supreme Court.   Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.   See

Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 489-90; see also United States v. Dabeit,

231 F.3d 979, 984 (5th Cir. 2000).   Therefore, Mendoza’s argument

is foreclosed.

     AFFIRMED.