United States v. Santellano

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT August 28, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-41806 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JUAN RAMON SANTELLANO, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:05-CR-503 -------------------- Before DAVIS, SMITH, and WIENER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Juan Ramon Santellano appeals his conviction and the 48- month sentence imposed following entry of his guilty plea to one count of being found illegally in the U.S. subsequent to removal and a conviction for an aggravated felony. Santellano contends that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional. Because the Government does not seek to enforce Santellano’s appeal waiver, it is not binding. See United States v. Story, 439 F.3d 226, 231 (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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 05-41806 -2- Santellano’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998). Although Santellano contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), 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). Santellano 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. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.