United States v. Cruz

170 F. App'x 347

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: March 9, 2006
• Docket: No. 04-40958
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

*

Leonardo Enrique Cruz appeals his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for being present in the United States following deportation. Cruz claims that the district court erred in applying Sentencing Guidelines § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(vii) because transportation of illegal aliens is not “alien smuggling”. Cruz concedes this claim is foreclosed by United States v. Solis-Campozano, 312 F.3d 164, 167-68 (5th Cir. 2002), which held “alien smuggling offense” includes the offense of transporting aliens within the United States. He raises this issue to preserve it for further review.

Cruz also claims the district court reversibly erred under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005) by sentencing him pursuant to a mandatory application of the sentencing guidelines. There was no “Booker” error (Sixth Amendment violation) because the only enhancement to Cruz’s sentence was for his prior conviction. See Booker, 125 S.Ct. at 756, 769. Nevertheless, the district court committed “Fanfan ” error by sentencing Cruz pursuant to a mandatory guidelines system. See United States v. Walters, 418 F.3d 461, (5th Cir.2005). A Fanfan error is not structural error. See United States v. Martinez-Lugo, 411 F.3d 597, 601 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 464, 163 L.Ed.2d 352 (2005).

The Government concedes that Cruz preserved his Fanfan claim. Accordingly, we review for harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt. See Walters, 418 F.3d at 464. There is no evidence in the record that the district court would have imposed the same sentence had the guidelines been advisory. Accordingly, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing.

Cruz contends that the “felony” and “aggravated felony” provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) and (b)(2) are unconstitutional on their face, and as applied in his case, in the light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Cruz’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although Cruz contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule it in the 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, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Cruz properly concedes that his claim is foreclosed; he raises it to preserve it for further review.

CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.

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.