Court Opinion

ID: 29785
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:44:45+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:26.887065
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 02-40116
                         Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

BELEM VASQUEZ-HERRERA,

                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                    USDC No. L-01-CR-772-ALL
                      --------------------
                        December 12, 2002

Before JOLLY, JONES, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Belem Vasquez-Herrera appeals his guilty plea conviction and

sentence for being found in the United States after deportation

in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.   Vasquez-Herrera argues that the

sentencing provisions in 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional

on their face and as applied in his case.      He contends that the

unconstitutional portions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 should be severed

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 02-40116
                                 -2-

from the statute.    He asks us to vacate his conviction and

sentence, reform the judgment to reflect a conviction only under

8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), and remand his case for resentencing under

that provision.

       In Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235

(1998), the Supreme Court held that the enhanced penalties in

8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are sentencing provisions, not elements of

separate offenses.    The Court further held that the sentencing

provisions do not violate the Due Process Clause.     Id. at 239-47.

Vasquez-Herrera acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by

Almendarez-Torres, but asserts that the decision has been called

into doubt by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 489-90

(2000).    He seeks to preserve his argument for further review.

       Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.   See Apprendi,

530 U.S. at 489-90; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984

(5th Cir. 2000).    This court must follow Almendarez-Torres

“unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule

it.”    Id. at 984 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

       The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of

filing an appellee’s brief.    The Government asks that an

appellee’s brief not be required.    The motion is GRANTED.

       AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.