United States v. De La Rosa-Rodriguez

Case: 21-50107 Document: 00515914873 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/25/2021 United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED June 25, 2021 No. 21-50107 Lyle W. Cayce Summary Calendar Clerk United States of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, versus Luis Carlos De La Rosa-Rodriguez, Defendant—Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 4:20-CR-328-1 Before Higginbotham, Jones, and Costa, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam:* Luis Carlos De La Rosa-Rodriguez appeals his sentence of 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, which the district court imposed following his guilty plea conviction for illegal reentry. He argues that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2), which was used to enhance his sentence, * Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4. Case: 21-50107 Document: 00515914873 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/25/2021 No. 21-50107 is unconstitutional because it increases the statutory maximum sentence based on the fact of a prior conviction neither alleged in the indictment nor found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. He concedes that the issue is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for further review. The Government moves for summary affirmance, asserting that De La Rosa-Rodriguez’s argument is foreclosed. The parties are correct that the sole issue raised on appeal is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres. See United States v. Wallace, 759 F.3d 486, 497 (5th Cir. 2014); United States v. Pineda-Arrellano, 492 F.3d 624, 625-26 (5th Cir. 2007). Because the issue is foreclosed, summary affirmance is appropriate. See Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969). Accordingly, the Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. The Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED. 2