United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT September 8, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 06-40355
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JOEL MEDINA-MENDEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 7:05-CR-786-ALL
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Before KING, GARWOOD, and JOLLY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Appealing the Judgment in a Criminal Case, Joel Medina-
Mendez raises arguments that are foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres
v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998), which held that 8
U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) is a penalty provision 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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.