United States v. Rodriguez-Del Campo

* 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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 05-40210
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JUAN RODRIGUEZ-DEL CAMPO,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 5:03-CR-1378-ALL
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Before GARZA, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Juan Rodriguez-Del Campo appeals his guilty-plea conviction
and sentence imposed after remand for illegal reentry following
deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. He challenges the
constitutionality of § 1326(b)’s treatment of prior felony and
aggravated felony convictions as sentencing factors rather than
elements of the offense that must be found by a jury in light of
Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000).
Rodriguez-Del Campo’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed
by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998).
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
February 24, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk

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No. 05-40210
-2-
Although Rodriguez-Del Campo contends that Almendarez-Torres was
incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court
would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, 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). Rodriguez-Del Campo properly concedes that his
argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit
precedent, but raises it here to preserve it for further review.
AFFIRMED.

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