United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT June 22, 2005
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-50227
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
RICARDO PONCE-VELARDE,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 3:04-CR-2112-1
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Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Appealing the Judgment in a Criminal Case, Richard Ponce-
Velarde raises arguments that are foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres
v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998), which held that a
prior conviction is a sentencing factor under 8 U.S.C.
§ 1326(b)(2) and not a separate criminal offense. The
Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and the
judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.