IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 02-50922
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
GILBERTO CORTEZ-VILLANUEVA, also known as Manuel Torres-Torres,
also known as Jorge Antonio Cortez-Villanueva,
Defendant-Appellant.
Consolidated with
No. 02-50923
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
GILBERTO CORTEZ-VILLANUEVA,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. SA-01-CR-592-ALL
USDC No. SA-02-CR-133-ALL
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February 20, 2003
Before WIENER, EMILIO M. GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
No. 02-50922 c/w 02-50923
-2-
In this consolidated appeal, Gilberto Cortez-Villanueva
challenges the sentence imposed following his guilty plea
conviction of being found in the United States after
deportation/removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Cortez-
Villanueva contends that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and 8 U.S.C.
§ 1326(b) define separate offenses. He argues that the prior
conviction that resulted in his increased sentence is an element
of a separate offense under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) that should have
been alleged in his indictment. Cortez-Villanueva 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.
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.
Cortez-Villanueva acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by
Almendarez-Torres, but asserts that the decision has been cast
into doubt by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (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
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 02-50922 c/w 02-50923
-3-
“unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule
it.” Dabeit, 231 F.3d at 984 (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). The judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.
The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of
filing an appellee’s brief. In its motion, the Government asks
that an appellee’s brief not be required. The motion is GRANTED.
AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.