USA vs. Lopez-Contreras, (5th Cir. 2001)

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 00-51002

Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

EDUARDO LOPEZ-CONTRERAS, also known as Salvador Gonzalez-Cabrera,

Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. EP-00-CR-850-ALL

June 15, 2001

Before WIENER, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:* Eduardo Lopez-Contreras appeals his sentence following his guilty plea conviction for illegal re-entry after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Lopez argues that his sentence should not have exceeded the two-year maximum sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Lopez acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States,523 U.S. 224 (1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for Supreme Court review in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey,530 U.S. 466 (2000). Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres. See Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 489-90; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984 (5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1214 (2001). Lopez's argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 235.

The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of filing an appellee's brief. In its motion, the Government asks that the judgment of the district court be affirmed and that an appellee's brief not be required. The motion is granted.

AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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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