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United States v. Calderon-Mora, 02-50913 (2003)

Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Number: 02-50913 Visitors: 8
Filed: Apr. 24, 2003
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D April 24, 2003 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 02-50913 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JAIME ACACIO CALDERON-MORA, also known as Jaime Calderon, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. EP-02-CR-92-ALL-PRM - Before DAVIS, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIA
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                                                       United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
                                                              April 24, 2003
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                 Clerk


                            No. 02-50913
                        Conference Calendar



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JAIME ACACIO CALDERON-MORA,
also known as Jaime Calderon,

                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                   USDC No. EP-02-CR-92-ALL-PRM
                       --------------------

Before DAVIS, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Jaime Acacio Calderon-Mora appeals the sentence imposed

following his guilty plea conviction of being found in the United

States after deportation/removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.

Calderon-Mora complains that his sentence was improperly enhanced

pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) based on a prior conviction.        He

argues that the sentencing provision is unconstitutional.

Calderon-Mora thus contends that his sentence should not exceed




     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 02-50913
                                 -2-

the two-year maximum term of imprisonment prescribed in 8 U.S.C.

§ 1326(a).

       In Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 
523 U.S. 224
, 235

(1998), the Supreme Court held that the enhanced penalties in

8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are sentencing provisions, not elements of

separate offenses.    The Court further held that the sentencing

provisions do not violate the Due Process Clause.     
Id. at 239-47.
Calderon-Mora acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by

Almendarez-Torres, but asserts that the decision has been cast

into doubt by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 
530 U.S. 466
, 490 (2000).

He seeks to preserve his argument for further review.

       Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.   See 
Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 489-90
; United States v. Dabeit, 
231 F.3d 979
, 984

(5th Cir. 2000).    This court must follow Almendarez-Torres

“unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule

it.”    
Dabeit, 231 F.3d at 984
(internal quotation marks and

citation omitted).    The judgment of the district court is

AFFIRMED.

       The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of

filing an appellee’s brief.    In its motion, the Government asks

that an appellee’s brief not be required.    The motion is GRANTED.

       AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.

Source:  CourtListener

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