Sanchez v. Tombone

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-41503 Conference Calendar RENE SANCHEZ, Petitioner-Appellant, versus JOHN M. TOMBONE, Warden, Respondent-Appellee. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 1:01-CV-353 -------------------- August 21, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Rene Sanchez, federal prisoner # 66129-079, appeals from the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas corpus petition. He argues that the district court erred in determining that his Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), claim did not meet the criteria for bringing a claim pursuant to the “savings clause” of 28 U.S.C. § 2255. * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 01-41503 -2- Sanchez contends that his sentence for possession with intent to distribute marijuana was unconstitutionally calculated in violation of Apprendi. This contention is without merit. On the counts to which Sanchez pleaded guilty, the indictment specifically alleged the involvement of 826 pounds, or 374.67 kilograms, of marijuana. Sanchez’s sentence does not violate Apprendi because the 120-month sentence and the five-year supervised release term he received were within the statutory maximum for his offense. United States v. Keith, 230 F.3d 784, 787 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1182 (2001); see 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B)(vii) and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3581, 3583. Sanchez also challenges the constitutionality of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 in light of Apprendi. This argument is foreclosed by Fifth Circuit precedent. See United States v. Fort, 248 F.3d 475, 482-83 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 122 S. Ct. 405 (2001); United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 582 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1045 (2001). JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.