United States v. Hernandez-Urbina

170 F. App'x 339

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

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Jose Hernandez-Urbina appeals the 30-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction of illegal reentry into the United States after being deported. He contends that his sentence is illegal under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), because it was imposed pursuant to a mandatory application of the United States Sentencing Guidelines. He thus alleges a “Fanfan” error. See United States v. Walters, 418 F.3d 461, 463 (5th Cir.2005). Fanfan error is not structural error, id., but the government concedes that Fanfan error was preserved, so we review for harmless error, see id. at 464.

The government fails to carry its burden of showing beyond a reasonable doubt that the Fanfan error had no effect on Hernandez-Urbina’s sentence. See id. We therefore vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with Booker. See id.

Hernandez-Urbina contends that the sentence-increasing provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional and that this court should remand for resentencing to no more than two years in prison under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). As he concedes, this contention is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998).

CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; 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Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.