United States v. Gutierrez-Cruz
United States v. Gutierrez-Cruz
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Appellant Eduardo Gutierrez-Cruz (“Gutierrez-Cruz”) was arrested at the border between the United States and Mexico on July 10, 2004. He was subsequently indicted and pled guilty to a charge of illegally attempting to enter the United States after having previously been deported, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Gutierrez-Cruz was sentenced to a 60-month term of imprisonment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm.
The district court did not err in failing to dismiss the indictment for failure to state a specific overt act that is a substantial step towards the completion of the crime charged. United States v. Resendiz-Ponce, 549 U.S. 102, 127 S.Ct. 782, 787-88, 166 L.Ed.2d 591 (2007).
The district court also did not err in imposing a 16-level sentence enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(i), based on its finding that Gutierrez-Cruz’s
Gutierrez-Cruz’s argument that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) is unconstitutional is foreclosed. See United States v. Covian-Sandoval, 462 F.3d 1090, 1097 (9th Cir. 2006).
AFFIRMED.
. 21 U.S.C. § 802(6) defines "controlled substance” as "a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor included in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V of part B of this subchapter.” Id. § 802(6).
. Under federal law, a "controlled substance analogue” is defined as follows:
[T]he term “controlled substance analogue” means a substance—
(i) the chemical structure of which is substantially similar to the chemical structure of a controlled substance in schedule I or II;
(ii) which has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system or a controlled substance in schedule I or II; or
(iii) with respect to a person, which such person represents or intends to have a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in schedule I or II. 21 U.S.C. § 802(32)(A).
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Eduardo GUTIERREZ-CRUZ, aka Federico Guitierrez-Cruz
- Status
- Published