United States v. Garcia-Sanchez

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 25, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-40125 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JAIME GARCIA-SANCHEZ, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 1:05-CR-830-ALL -------------------- Before JOLLY, DeMOSS, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Jaime Garcia-Sanchez appeals his guilty-plea conviction and 60-month sentence for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. Garcia-Sanchez challenges the constitutionality of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b). Garcia-Sanchez’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998). Although Garcia-Sanchez 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 * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 06-40125 -2- 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). Garcia-Sanchez properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here solely to preserve it for further review. AFFIRMED.