U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2018

United States v. Yeison Valencia Torres

United States v. Yeison Valencia Torres
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · Decided November 15, 2018

United States v. Yeison Valencia Torres

Opinion

Case: 18-11134 Date Filed: 11/15/2018 Page: 1 of 2

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________ No. 18-11134 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________ D.C. Docket No. 1:17-cr-20786-UU-2

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, versus YEISON VALENCIA TORRES, Defendant - Appellant.

________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________ (November 15, 2018)

Before MARTIN, JILL PRYOR and BLACK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM: Case: 18-11134 Date Filed: 11/15/2018 Page: 2 of 2

Yeison Torres appeals his 120-month sentence following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, 46 U.S.C. § 70501 et seq. (MDLEA).

Torres contends the MDLEA’s exclusion from safety-valve relief provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f) violates his right to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment.

Because Torres’ sole argument is foreclosed by this Court’s decision in United States v. Castillo, 899 F.3d 1208, 1213 (11th Cir. 2018), we affirm. See United States v. Vega-Castillo, 540 F.3d 1235, 1236 (11th Cir. 2008) (“Under the prior precedent rule, we are bound to follow a prior binding precedent unless and until it is overruled by this court en banc or by the Supreme Court.” (quotation omitted)).

AFFIRMED.

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