Untied States v. Angon-Zamudio

168 F. App'x 591

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: February 22, 2006
• Docket: No. 04-41553
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

*

Rudolfo Angon-Zamudio (“Angón”) pleaded guilty to one count of illegally reentering the United States following deportation. Over Angon’s objection, which was based on Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), the district court enhanced Angon’s sentence because he had previously been deported following a felony drug trafficking conviction. Angón was sentenced to a 41-month term of imprisonment.

Angón, relying on United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), argues that the district court committed reversible error by imposing sentence pursuant to a mandatory application of the Sentencing Guidelines. The Government concedes that Angon’s Blakely objection in the district court preserved the error.

Angón contends that the district court committed “structural error,” that is not susceptible to harmless error analysis. As Angon concedes, however, this court has rejected the argument that a Booker error or the application of the then-mandatory guidelines is a structural error. United States v. Malveaux, 411 F.3d 558, 561 n. 9 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 194, 163 L.Ed.2d 209 (2005).

Angón also contends that the district court’s error was not harmless. It is the Government’s burden to “show that the sentencing judge would have imposed the same sentence under an advisory sentencing scheme.” United States v. Pineiro, 410 F.3d 282, 286 (5th Cir.2005). Our review of the record shows that the Government correctly concedes that the error was not harmless. Accordingly, we will vacate Angon’s sentence and remand for resentencing.

Angón challenges the constitutionality of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)’s treatment of prior felony and aggravated felony convictions as sentencing factors rather than elements of the offense that must be found by a jury in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Angón contends that his conviction should be reduced to one under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(2) and the judgment reformed to reflect conviction only under that provision.

Angon’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 Angon contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in 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). Angón 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.

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.