United States v. Cordova-Munoz

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 22, 2003 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 03-10367 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JOSE DANIEL CORDOVA-MUNOZ, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 3:02-CR-347-ALL -------------------- Before KING, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Attorney Robert J. Herrington, appointed to represent Jose Daniel Cordova-Munoz (“Cordova-Munoz”), has requested leave to withdraw and has filed a brief as required by Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Cordova-Munoz has filed a response. He contends that the district court was unaware that it had the authority to grant a downward departure and that the sentencing enhancements in 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (b)(1)&(b)(2) are * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 03-10367 -2- unconstitutional based on the holding in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). Cordova-Munoz knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal his sentence except if his punishment exceeded the statutory maximum, if the district court upwardly departed from the applicable sentencing guidelines range, or if there were any mathematical errors in his sentencing. United States v. Portillo, 18 F.3d 290, 292 (5th Cir. 1994). Cordova-Munoz thus waived the right to raise the argument regarding the district court’s failure to grant a downward departure, and his argument regarding the constitutionality of § 1326(b)(1)&(b)(2) is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998). Our independent review of the brief, the record, and Cordova-Munoz’s response discloses no nonfrivolous issue for appeal. Counsel’s motion for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused from further responsibilities, and the appeal is DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. MOTION GRANTED; APPEAL DISMISSED.