United States v. Velasquez-Argueta

689 F. App'x 361

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: May 18, 2017
• Docket: No. 16-41377 Summary Calendar
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

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Jose Isaac Velasquez-Argueta appeals his within-guideline sentence for his guilty-plea conviction of illegally reentering the United States after deportation. He argues that the district court erred in concluding that his Maryland conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon qualified as a crime of violence under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(ii) (2014). The Government moves for summary affirmance in light of United States v. Segovia, 770 F.3d 351, 355 (5th Cir. 2014), and alternatively moves for an extension of time to file its brief.

In Segovia, our court held that a Maryland conviction for robbery with a dangerous and deadly weapon fell within the “use of force” catch-all of § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(ii). 770 F.3d at 355. We concluded that the Guideline applied “because robbery with a dangerous weapon under Maryland law requires the use of force or threatened use of force.” Id. (citing Coles v. State, 374 Md. 114, 821 A.2d 389, 395 (2003)). Velasquez-Argueta argues that his Maryland robbery conviction is broader than generic robbery and does not fall under the “use of force” catch-all of § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(ii). Segovia, however, rejected these arguments and, thus, controls. 770 F.3d at 354-55.

Velasquez-Argueta advances one argument that Segovia did not address: that the Maryland statute does not require the intentional use of physical force and, thus, cannot fall within the § 2L1.2 catch-all. Nonetheless, this argument also lacks merit. As our court recently explained, the “use of force” requirement in the § 2L1.2 catch-all demands “that the act be more than involuntary” but does not concern itself with a specific mens rea required by the statute of conviction. See United States v. Mendez-Henriquez, 847 F.3d 214, 221-22 (5th Cir. 2017). Despite Velasquez-Argue-ta’s argument, the intent requirement for a Maryland robbery conviction meets this standard. See Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 3-401(e)(2); Harris v. State, 353 Md. 596, 728 A.2d 180, 188 (1999); Hook v. State, 315 Md. 25, 553 A.2d 233, 236 (1989).

As Segovia does not foreclose all of Velasquez-Argueta’s arguments, the motion for summary affirmance is DENIED. Even so, in light of both Segovia and Mendez-Henriquez, Velasquez-Argueta’s challenges on appeal are unavailing. Therefore, we dispense with further briefing, and the alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED. The judgment is AFFIRMED.

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.