United States v. Valenzuela-Gonzalez

* 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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-51181
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MIGUEL VALENZUELA-GONZALEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. EP-00-CR-1165-ALL-H
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June 15, 2001
Before WIENER, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Miguel Valenzuela-Gonzalez appeals his sentence following
his guilty plea conviction for illegal re-entry after deportation
in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Valenzuela argues that his
sentence should not have exceeded the two-year maximum sentence
under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Valenzuela acknowledges that his
argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523
U.S. 224 (1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for Supreme

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No. 00-51181
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Court review in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466
(2000).
Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres. See Apprendi,
530 U.S. at 489-90; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984
(5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1214 (2001).
Valenzuela’s argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres, 523
U.S. at 235.
The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of
filing an appellee’s brief. In its motion, the Government asks
that the judgment of the district court be affirmed and that an
appellee’s brief not be required. The motion is granted.
AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.

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