U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2003

United States v. Garza-Gonzalez

United States v. Garza-Gonzalez
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided August 19, 2003 · Jones, Wiener, Benavides
71 F. App'x 411

United States v. Garza-Gonzalez

Opinion

PER CURIAM. *

Concepcion Garza-Gonzalez appeals his conviction following his guilty plea to importing 45.125 kilograms of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1) and (b)(4), and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Garza-Gonzalez argues that §§ 952 and 960 are facially unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). He acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by this court’s decision in United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 582 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1045, 121 S.Ct. 2015, 149 L.Ed.2d 1015 (2001), but raises the issue only to preserve it for review in the Supreme Court.

Slaughter applies by analogy to the instant case because the statutes at issue are similar in structure and content. One panel of this court may not overrule another. See United States v. Fowler, 216 F.3d 459, 461 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 960, 121 S.Ct. 387, 148 L.Ed.2d 298 (2000).

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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