Court Opinion

ID: 9365308
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-23 19:00:26.469633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:44.855015
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-10546        Document: 00516619628             Page: 1      Date Filed: 01/23/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit                                       United States Court of Appeals
                                     ____________                                      Fifth Circuit

                                                                                     FILED
                                      No. 22-10546                             January 23, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                                                                Lyle W. Cayce
                                    ____________                                     Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Jose Isabel Mora-Rodriguez,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Northern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 4:21-CR-339-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Stewart, Dennis, and Willett, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Jose Isabel Mora-Rodriguez appeals his conviction and sentence for
   illegal reentry after removal from the United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)
   & (b)(1).      Mora-Rodriguez challenges the application of § 1326(b)’s
   enhanced penalty provision as unconstitutional because it permits a
   defendant to be sentenced above the statutory maximum of § 1326(a) based
   on the fact of a prior conviction that was not alleged in the indictment or
          _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-10546      Document: 00516619628          Page: 2   Date Filed: 01/23/2023

                                    No. 22-10546

   found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. As he concedes, this issue is
   foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998). See
   United States v. Pervis, 937 F.3d 546, 553-54 (5th Cir. 2019). He nevertheless
   raises the issue to preserve it for Supreme Court review. The Government
   agrees that the issue is foreclosed and moves, unopposed, for summary
   affirmance on that basis or, alternatively, for an extension of time to file a
   brief.
            Because summary affirmance is appropriate, see Groendyke Transp.,
   Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), the Government’s motion
   is GRANTED, and the district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED. The
   Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is
   DENIED.

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