United States v. Javier Galindo-Caballero ( 2020 )


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  •      Case: 19-50788      Document: 00515369463         Page: 1    Date Filed: 04/02/2020
    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
    United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    No. 19-50788                             April 2, 2020
    Summary Calendar
    Lyle W. Cayce
    Clerk
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
    Plaintiff-Appellee
    v.
    JAVIER GALINDO-CABALLERO,
    Defendant-Appellant
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Texas
    USDC No. 2:19-CR-82-1
    Before JOLLY, JONES, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM: *
    Javier Galindo-Caballero appeals the 54-month sentence imposed
    following conviction based on his guilty plea of illegal reentry after having been
    previously removed.        He argues that his sentence was imposed under an
    unconstitutional statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b). Specifically, he contends that in
    order to trigger a sentencing enhancement under Section 1326(b), the fact of a
    prior conviction must be alleged in the indictment and proven to a jury;
    * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
    be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
    Case: 19-50788     Document: 00515369463      Page: 2   Date Filed: 04/02/2020
    No. 19-50788
    therefore, he asserts that Section 1326(b) is unconstitutional. He correctly
    concedes that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United
    States, 
    523 U.S. 224
    (1998), but he makes the argument to preserve it for
    further possible review. 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).
    The Government has filed an unopposed motion for summary affirmance
    and, alternatively, seeks an extension of time to file its brief. 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, the Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to
    file a brief is DENIED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
    2