United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT June 20, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-40404
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JAIME CARO-GONZALEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 1:04-CR-937-ALL
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Before STEWART, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Jaime Caro-Gonzalez (Caro) appeals following his guilty
plea conviction for illegal reentry into the United States. He
argues that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of
8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (2) are unconstitutional in light of
Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). Because the
Government has not invoked the waiver provisions in the plea
agreement, the waiver does not bind Caro. See United States v.
Story, 439 F.3d 226, 230-31 (5th Cir. 2006).
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 05-40404
-2-
Caro’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by
Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998).
Although Caro contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly
decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule
Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, we have repeatedly
rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres
remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268,
276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 298 (2005). Caro
properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of
Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to
preserve it for further review. Because Caro has shown no error
in the judgment of the district court, that judgment is AFFIRMED.