United States v. Francisco Martin Flores
Opinion
Francisco Martin Flores appeals his sentence of 41 months of imprisonment following his plea of guilty to reentering the United States illegally after deportation. 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2). Flores challenges the 16-level enhancement of his sentence based on his prior conviction for the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A) (Nov. 2014). We affirm.
Flores acknowledges that our decision in United States v. Orduno-Mireles, 405 F.3d 960 (11th Cir. 2005), forecloses his argument that his prior conviction cannot be used to enhance his sentence because it was not alleged in his indictment, U.S. Const. Amend. V, or proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, U.S. Const. Amend. VI. In Orduno-Mireles we held, based on Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), “that recidivism under section 2L1.2(b)(2) is not a separate element of an offense that the government is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt” or to allege in an indictment. 405 F.3d at 962. And we are bound by Almen-darez-Torres unless and until it , is overruled by the Supreme Court. Id. at 963; see also United States v. Harris, 741 F.3d 1245, 1250 (11th Cir. 2014).
We AFFIRM Flores’s sentence.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Francisco Martin FLORES, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished