United States v. Espinoza-Cortez

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT December 17, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-40794 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JOSE REYES ESPINOZA-CORTEZ, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:04-CR-42-ALL -------------------- Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Jose Reyes Espinoza-Cortez appeals his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for illegal reentry following deportation. He contends that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). He argues that he may not be convicted and sentenced under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) because the indictment did not allege that he was deported after a qualifying felony or aggravated felony and that * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 04-40794 -2- Blakely v. Washington, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), dictates that his sentence violates his Sixth Amendment rights. As Espinoza-Cortez concedes, these arguments are foreclosed. See Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 247 (1998); United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984 (5th Cir. 2000); see also United States v. Pineiro, 377 F.3d 464, 473 (5th Cir.), petition for cert. filed (U.S. July 14, 2004) (No. 04-5263). AFFIRMED.