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United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT February 2, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-40095 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus AARON SALGADO-RANGEL, also known as Aaron Rangel-Salgado, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 5:04-CR-1532-ALL -------------------- Before KING, DeMOSS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Aaron Salgado-Rangel (Salgado) appeals the 30-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction of attempting to enter the United States without permission after having been deported, in violation of
8 U.S.C. § 1326. Salgado argues that his sentence is illegal under United States v. Booker,
543 U.S. 220,
125 S. Ct. 738(2005), because it was imposed pursuant to a mandatory application of the federal Sentencing Guidelines. The erroneous application of the Guidelines as mandatory is technically a “Fanfan error.” United States v. Martinez-Lugo, * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 05-40095 -2-
411 F.3d 597, 600 (5th Cir.), cert. denied,
126 S. Ct. 464(2005); see Booker, 125 S. Ct. at 750, 768-69. The Government concedes that Salgado preserved his Fanfan claim for appeal and that the issue is reviewed for harmless error. See United States v. Walters,
418 F.3d 461, 464 (5th Cir. 2005). The Government contends that harmless error is shown by the imposition of a “reasonable” sentence at the low end of the guidelines range. However, the Government does not carry its arduous burden of showing that the district court would not have sentenced Salgado differently under an advisory guidelines system. See United States v. Pineiro,
410 F.3d 282, 284-85 (5th Cir. 2005); United States v. Garza,
429 F.3d 165, 170-71 (5th Cir. 2005) (Booker error). We therefore we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with Booker. Salgado also argues § 1326 is unconstitutional. As he concedes, this argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States,
523 U.S. 224(1998), which this court must follow “unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule it.” United States v. Izaguirre-Flores,
405 F.3d 270, 277-78 (5th Cir.) (quotation marks omitted), cert. denied,
126 S. Ct. 253(2005). The judgment of conviction is affirmed. CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; CASE REMANDED.
Document Info
Docket Number: 05-40095
Citation Numbers: 165 F. App'x 355
Judges: DeMOSS, King, Per Curiam, Prado
Filed Date: 2/2/2006
Precedential Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 8/2/2023