Stanley v. Holder

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Stanley v. Holder, 354 F. App'x 40 (5th Cir. 2009)

Stanley v. Holder

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Lennox Stanley, a native and citizen of Guyana, petitions this court to review the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismissing his appeal and affirming the immigration judge’s (IJ) decision that Stanley was ineligible for cancellation of removal pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3) because he had committed an aggravated felony. Stanley, who has been convicted in state court of possession of controlled substances on more than one occasion since his admission to the United States, contends that his second state misdemeanor conviction should not be treated as an aggravated felony under federal law because the Fifth Circuit decision allowing such treatment is no longer valid law. He also argues that his second conviction was not punishable under the federal recidivist drug-possession statute because he was not given proper notice in the proceedings of the second conviction of any intent to use the previous conviction to increase his sentence.

The BIA correctly determined that Stanley had committed an aggravated felony for immigration law purposes. See Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder, 570 F.3d 263, 266-68 (5th Cir. 2009), petition for cert. filed (July 15, 2009) (No. 09-60); 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B); 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(2), 3559(a). Therefore, Stanley was ineligible for cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b. Moreover, the federal notice requirement of 21 U.S.C. § 851 did not apply to the state court proceedings that resulted in Stanley’s second narcotics conviction. See United States v. Cepeda-Rios, 530 F.3d 333, 335 n. 11 (5th Cir. 2008).

* * *

Stanley’s petition for review is DENIED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

Reference

Full Case Name
Lennox STANLEY, Also Known as Stanley McVean, Also Known as Leonard Stanly, Also Known as Lenox McBean, Also Known as Lenox Stanley, Also Known as Leonard Stanley, Also Known as Stanley Lennox, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., U.S. Attorney General, Respondent
Status
Unpublished