Court Opinion

ID: 9392484
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-05 00:00:31.917335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:46.207520
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-40669        Document: 00516738879             Page: 1      Date Filed: 05/04/2023

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

                                      No. 22-40669                             FILED
                                    Summary Calendar                        May 4, 2023
                                    ____________                          Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                               Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Javier Escalera, Jr.,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 5:20-CR-1654-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Jones, Haynes, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         Javier Escalera, Jr., appeals his 60-month prison terms for conspiracy
   to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and
   possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. He
   challenges the district court’s determination that he was ineligible for the
   safety valve under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f) because he has a prior offense that

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-40669      Document: 00516738879            Page: 2    Date Filed: 05/04/2023

                                     No. 22-40669

   received three criminal history points.          Escalera contends that, under
   § 3553(f)(1), a defendant’s criminal history precludes relief only if he has
   more than four criminal history points (not counting one-point offenses), a
   prior three-point offense, and a prior two-point violent offense. However, he
   concedes that the issue is foreclosed by our holding in United States v.
   Palomares, 52 F.4th 640, 642, 647 (5th Cir. 2022), petition for cert. filed (U.S.
   Dec. 21, 2022) (No. 22-340), that a defendant is ineligible for the safety valve
   if his criminal history satisfies just one of those conditions.
          Because the sole issue is foreclosed and “there can be no substantial
   question as to the outcome of the case,” the Government’s motion for
   summary affirmance is GRANTED, Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406
   F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), and the judgment of the district court is
   AFFIRMED. The Government’s alternative motion for an extension of
   time to file its appellate brief is DENIED. Escalera’s motion to hold the
   appeal in abeyance pending the Supreme Court’s decision in Pulsifer v.
   United States, 39 F.4th 1018 (8th Cir. 2022), cert. granted (U.S. Feb. 27, 2023)
   (No. 21-1609), is DENIED. See United States v. Lopez-Velasquez, 526 F.3d
   804, 808 n.1 (5th Cir. 2008).

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