United States v. Ortiz-Partida
United States v. Ortiz-Partida
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Francisco Javier Ortiz-Partida appeals his conviction and the sentence imposed following his guilty plea to importation of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Routine searches at the border do not require objective justification, probable cause, or a warrant. United States v. Montoya de Hernandez, 473 U.S. 531, 538, 105 S.Ct. 3304, 87 L.Ed.2d 381 (1985). “The ‘critical factor’ in determining whether a border search is ‘routine’ is the ‘degree of intrusiveness it poses.’ ” United States v. Tsai, 282 F.3d 690, 694 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting United States v. Molinar-Tarazon, 279 F.3d 709, 713 (9th Cir. 2002)).
The parties dispute the level of suspicion required to justify the search conducted by Customs agents here.
We do not reach the issue of whether Appellant’s detainment constituted an arrest unsupported by probable cause because he did not expressly reserve the right to appeal the issue, thus waiving it.
Appellant’s facial and as-applied challenges to the constitutionality of the statute of conviction are foreclosed by our decisions in United States v. Carranza, 289 F.3d 634 (9th Cir. 2002), and United States v. Mendoza-Paz, 286 F.3d 1104 (9th Cir. 2002). See Carranza, 289 F.3d at 643 (holding that an as-applied challenge failed because the defendant was never exposed to a sentence beyond the prescribed statutory maximum); Mendoza-Paz, 286 F.3d at 1110 (rejecting a facial challenge to the constitutionality of § 960). We reject Appellant’s argument regarding the statutory minimum sentence because (1) his sentence was well below the statutory minimum, and (2) Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), does not apply to mandatory minimum sentences, Harris v. United States, -U.S.-, 122 S.Ct. 2406, 2417-19, 153 L.Ed.2d 524 (2002); United States v. Hitchcock, 298 F.3d 1021 (9th Cir. 2002), amending 286 F.3d 1064 (9th Cir. 2002). Appellant’s arguments regarding the indictment also fail. Unlike the cases on which Appellant relies, the indictment in the instant case included every element of the offense and was not deficient; furthermore, we have held that “[a] defendant charged with importing or possessing a drug is not required to know the type and amount of drug.” Carranza, 289 F.3d at 644. The judgment of conviction and the sentence imposed by the district court are
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Cir. R. 36-3.
. Because the parties are familiar with the facts of this case, we do not recite them here, except as necessary to explain our reasoning.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee v. Francisco Javier ORTIZ-PARTIDA, Defendant—Appellant
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published