United States v. Cerda

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-20725 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. ALPHONSO CERDA Defendant - Appellant -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. H-99-CR-711-3 -------------------- June 20, 2001 Before KING, Chief Judge, and BARKSDALE and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Alphonso Cerda appeals his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Cerda argues that his sentence was improper under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), because the district court enhanced his sentence based on drug quantity and the possession of a firearm without those factors being determined by a jury beyond a * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 00-20725 -2- reasonable doubt. Cerda's argument is unavailing. Because the sentence imposed did not exceed the statutory maximum based on the drug quantity alleged in the indictment, Apprendi is inapplicable. See United States v. Keith, 230 F.3d 784, 787 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1163 (2001); United States v. Doggett, 230 F.3d 160, 164-65 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1152 (2001). AFFIRMED.