United States v. Myers-Pacheco
United States v. Myers-Pacheco
Opinion
Adan Myers-Pacheco appeals from his guilty-plea conviction for illegal reentry in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2). Myers-Pacheco argues that the district court imposed an unreasonable sentence because it failed to consider the impact of his belief that he was a United States citizen on the relevant § 3553(a) sentencing factors. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)-(5). Although the court did not identify each factor under § 3553(a), the court considered and rejected the impact of Myers-Pacheco’s beliefs about his citizenship on the sentencing factors. In fact, the district court’s questioning concerning the contradiction between Myers-Pacheco’s belief and his action in obtaining a resident alien card reflected the court’s skepticism regarding Myers-Pacheco’s belief that he was a citizen. Accordingly, Myers-Pacheco has not overcome the presumption of reasonableness. See United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 553-54 (5th Cir. 2006).
Myers-Pacheco also argues, in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), that the 46-month term of imprisonment exceeds the statutory maximum sentence allowed for the § 1326(a) offense charged in his indictment. He challenges the constitutionality of § 1326(b)’s treatment of prior felony and aggravated felony convictions as sentencing factors rather than elements of the offense that must be found by a jury.
Myers-Pacheco’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although he contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garzar-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Myers-Pacheco properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he *424 raises it here to preserve it for further review.
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Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
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