United States v. Mendoza-Maldonado

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-51304 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MAXIMILLIANO MENDOZA-MALDONADO, Defendant-Appellant. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. EP-00-CR-1233-ALL-DB - - - - - - - - - - June 15, 2001 Before WIENER, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Maximilliano Mendoza-Maldonado appeals his sentence following his guilty plea conviction for illegal re-entry after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Mendoza argues that his sentence should not have exceeded the two-year maximum sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Mendoza acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for Supreme * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 00-51304 - 2 - Court review in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). 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), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1214 (2001). Mendoza’s argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 235. The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of filing an appellee’s brief. In its motion, the Government asks that the judgment of the district court be affirmed and that an appellee’s brief not be required. The motion is granted. AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.