Court Opinion

ID: 29428
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:38:42+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:37.269519
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 02-10224
                        Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JUAN BENITEZ-SANCHEZ,

                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Northern District of Texas
                     USDC No. 6:01-CR-51-1-C
                       --------------------
                         October 30, 2002

Before DeMOSS, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Juan Benitez-Sanchez appeals the sentence imposed following

his guilty plea conviction of being found in the United States

after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.     He complains

that his sentence was improperly increased based on his prior

deportation following an aggravated felony conviction.

     Benitez-Sanchez first argues that the aggravated felony

conviction that resulted in his increased sentence is an element

of the offense under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) that should have been

alleged in his indictment and included in the factual basis of

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 02-10224
                                 -2-

his guilty plea.   Benitez-Sanchez maintains that he pleaded

guilty to an indictment which charged only simple reentry under

8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).   He argues that his sentence exceeds the

two-year maximum term of imprisonment which may be imposed for

that offense.

     Benitez-Sanchez’s argument presupposes that 8 U.S.C.

§ 1326(a) and 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) define separate offenses.

However, 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.    As an aggravated felony is not an element of

the offense under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, it need not have been alleged

in the indictment and need not have been elicited as an element

of the offense when establishing the factual basis.    Benitez-

Sanchez’s argument is without merit.

     Benitez-Sanchez also contends that nothing in the record

supports a finding that he was convicted of an aggravated felony.

Benitez-Sanchez’s argument has no basis in fact.     The presentence

report (PSR) clearly states that in 1998, Benitez-Sanchez was

convicted in state court of three counts of delivering a

controlled substance.   Those offenses qualify as aggravated

felonies for purposes of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) and the United

States Sentencing Guidelines.    See U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(Nov.

2001), § 2L1.2, comment. (n.1(B)(iii)(Nov. 2001)).    Benitez-

Sanchez has not challenged the accuracy of the facts contained in

the PSR.   See United States v. Vital, 68 F.3d 114, 120 (5th Cir.

1995).   Accordingly, the district court was entitled to rely on
                           No. 02-10224
                                -3-

that information at sentencing.   Id.   The judgment of the

district court is AFFIRMED.

     In lieu of filing an appellee’s brief, the Government has

filed a motion asking this court to dismiss this appeal or, in

the alternative, to summarily affirm the district court’s

judgment.   The Government’s motion to dismiss is DENIED.     The

motion for a summary affirmance is GRANTED.   The Government need

not file an appellee’s brief.

     AFFIRMED; MOTION TO DISMISS DENIED; MOTION FOR SUMMARY
     AFFIRMANCE GRANTED.