United States v. Del Angel

176 F. App'x 483

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 11, 2006

Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-41064 Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

DIEGO ISLAS DEL ANGEL,

Defendant-Appellant.

-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:05-CR-198-ALL --------------------

Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Diego Islas Del Angel appeals his guilty-plea conviction and

sentence for two counts of transportation of an unlawful alien

within the United States and one count of illegal reentry after

deportation. Del Angel argues that the district court erred by

finding that his prior Texas felony conviction for burglary of a

habitation was a crime of violence under U.S.S.G.

§ 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii). The district court did not err. See

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 05-41064 -2-

United States v. Garcia-Mendez, 420 F.3d 454, 456-57 (5th Cir.

2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 1398 (2006).

Del Angel’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by

Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998).

Although Del Angel contends that Almendarez-Torres was

incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court

would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi v. New

Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), 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). Del Angel properly concedes

that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and

circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for

further review.

AFFIRMED.