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United States v. Jose Cruz-Velez, 09-40958 (2010)

Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Number: 09-40958 Visitors: 28
Filed: Jun. 24, 2010
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: Case: 09-40958 Document: 00511149388 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/22/2010 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED June 22, 2010 No. 09-40958 Conference Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. JOSE LUIS CRUZ-VELEZ, Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:09-CR-221-1 Before JOLLY, STEWART, and OWEN, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:*
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     Case: 09-40958     Document: 00511149388          Page: 1    Date Filed: 06/22/2010




           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                 FILED
                                                                            June 22, 2010
                                     No. 09-40958
                                  Conference Calendar                       Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                 Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JOSE LUIS CRUZ-VELEZ,

                                                   Defendant-Appellant


                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 2:09-CR-221-1


Before JOLLY, STEWART, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Jose Luis Cruz-Velez appeals his jury conviction for possession with intent
to distribute 154.24 kilograms of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
and (b)(1)(B).     He argues that, in light of the Supreme Court decision in
Flores-Figueroa v. United States, 
129 S. Ct. 1886
(2009), the evidence was
insufficient to support his conviction because the Government failed to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew the specific type and quantity of
controlled substance he possessed.

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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.
   Case: 09-40958   Document: 00511149388 Page: 2       Date Filed: 06/22/2010
                                No. 09-40958

      This issue is foreclosed by circuit precedent.     See United States v.
Gamez-Gonzalez, 
319 F.3d 695
, 699-700 (5th Cir. 2003) (holding that knowledge
of drug type or quantity is not an element of an offense under § 841). Moreover,
this precedent has not been overruled by Flores-Figueroa. See United States v.
Betancourt, 
586 F.3d 303
, 308-09 (5th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 
130 S. Ct. 1920
(2010). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.




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Source:  CourtListener

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