United States v. Castro-Guzman , 169 F. App'x 248 ( 2006 )

PER CURIAM: ^*

Jesus Castro-Guzman appeals his guilty-plea conviction for being found in the United States after previously having been deported. Castro-Guzman argues that there was error under United, States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), because he was sentenced under the mandatory Sentencing Guidelines. Castro-Guzman’s sentence was enhanced based only on his pri- or convictions, and, thus, Castro-Guzman’s sentence was not affected by a Sixth Amendment violation. See Booker, 125 S.Ct. at 750, 769. Nevertheless, the district court erred by imposing a sentence pursuant to a mandatory application of the Sentencing Guidelines. Id. at 768; see also United States v. Valenzuela-Quevedo, 407 F.3d 728, 733 (5th Cir.), cert, denied, — U.S.-, 126 S.Ct. 267, 163 L.Ed.2d 240 (2005). However, Castro-Guzman cannot establish that this error affected his substantial rights because he cannot show that the outcome would have been different absent the error. See United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 521 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 43, 163 L.Ed.2d 76 (2005). The record does not establish that the sentencing court would have imposed a different sentence had it been proceeding under an advisory guideline scheme.

Castro-Guzman also challenges the constitutionality of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)’s penalty provisions in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Castro-Guzman’s challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although Castro-Guzman contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Castro-Guzman properly concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for further review.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.