United States v. Aniceto De La Cruz- Tiburcio ( 2020 )


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  • Case: 20-50489     Document: 00515614474         Page: 1     Date Filed: 10/23/2020
    United States Court of Appeals
    for the Fifth Circuit
    United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    No. 20-50489
    October 23, 2020
    Summary Calendar
    Lyle W. Cayce
    Clerk
    United States of America,
    Plaintiff—Appellee,
    versus
    Aniceto De La Cruz-Tiburcio,
    Defendant—Appellant.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Texas
    USDC No. 2:19-CR-3091-1
    Before JOLLY, ELROD, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
    Per Curiam:*
    Aniceto De La Cruz-Tiburcio appeals his sentence of 33 months of
    imprisonment and three years of supervised release, which the district court
    imposed following his guilty plea conviction for illegal reentry. He asserts
    that the enhancement of his sentence based on his prior conviction pursuant
    *
    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    opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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: 20-50489     Document: 00515614474           Page: 2   Date Filed: 10/23/2020
    No. 20-50489
    to 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1), which increased the statutory maximum term of
    imprisonment, is unconstitutional because his prior conviction is treated as a
    sentencing factor rather than an element of the offense that must be alleged
    in the indictment and 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 Cruz-
    Tiburcio’s argument is foreclosed.
    The parties are correct that De La Cruz-Tiburcio’s assertion is
    foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres. See United States v. Wallace, 
    759 F.3d 486
    ,
    497 (5th Cir. 2014); United States v. Rojas-Luna, 
    522 F.3d 502
    , 505-06
    (5th Cir. 2008).   Accordingly, the Government’s motion for summary
    affirmance is GRANTED, see Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 
    406 F.2d 1158
    , 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), the Government’s alternative motion for an
    extension of time to file a brief is DENIED as unnecessary, and the
    judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
    2