USA v. Hernandez-Alberto, No. 21-50307 (5th Cir. 2021)

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Case: 21-50306 Document: 00516094762 Page: 1 Date Filed: 11/16/2021 United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED November 16, 2021 No. 21-50306 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk United States of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, versus Rey David Alberto-Hernandez, Defendant—Appellant, consolidated with _____________ No. 21-50307 _____________ United States of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, versus Rey David Hernandez-Alberto, Defendant—Appellant. Case: 21-50306 Document: 00516094762 Page: 2 Date Filed: 11/16/2021 No. 21-50306 c/w 21-No. 21-50307 Appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 4:20-CR-523-1 USDC No. 4:20-CR-540-1 Before Davis, Jones, and Elrod, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam:* The appellant challenges the sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(1). He was sentenced to 16 months of imprisonment, which was within the advisory guidelines range, and to three years of supervised release. His sole argument on appeal is that, under the reasoning of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), and subsequent decisions, the recidivism enhancement of § 1326(b) is unconstitutional because it permits a sentence above the otherwise applicable statutory maximum based on facts that were neither alleged in the indictment nor found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. He concedes that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for further review should the Supreme Court overturn that decision. He also appeals the concomitant revocation of his supervised release related to a prior illegal reentry conviction, which was consolidated with this case for appeal, but he has not briefed any challenge to the revocation or the revocation sentence. Thus, he has waived any challenge to the revocation and * Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4. 2 Case: 21-50306 Document: 00516094762 Page: 3 Date Filed: 11/16/2021 No. 21-50306 c/w No. 21-50307 revocation sentence for appeal. See United States v. Thames, 214 F.3d 608, 611 n.3 (5th Cir. 2000); Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(8)(A). The Government has filed an unopposed motion for summary affirmance agreeing that the sole issue raised on appeal is foreclosed and, in the alternative, a motion for an extension of time to file a brief. Because the appellant’s sentencing claim is foreclosed by AlmendarezTorres, summary affirmance is appropriate. See Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969). Accordingly, the Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, the Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is DENIED as unnecessary, and the judgments of the district court are AFFIRMED. 3

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