MEMORANDUM2

Artemio Salgado-Castillo appeals the 57-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea to being an alien found in the United States following deportation. Sal-gado-Castillo contends that in light of Ap-prendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), the district court erred in imposing a sentence in excess of the two-year maximum set forth in 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) based upon a prior felony to which he did not admit, and which was not submitted to a jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He also contends that Apprendi renders inapplicable Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 *579L.Ed.2d 350 (1998) (holding that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) is a sentencing factor and not a separate offense), because he did not admit to an aggravated felony. His arguments are foreclosed by this court’s recent decision in United States v. Pacheco-Zepeda, 234 F.3d 411 (9th Cir. 2000), as amended (Feb. 8, 2001). United States v. Castillo Rivera, 244 F.3d 1020, 1024-45 (9th Cir. 2001).

AFFIRMED.