United States v. Kevin Garcia-Vasquez ( 2020 )


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  •      Case: 20-50006      Document: 00515504234         Page: 1    Date Filed: 07/27/2020
    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
    United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    No. 20-50006                            July 27, 2020
    Summary Calendar
    Lyle W. Cayce
    Clerk
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
    Plaintiff-Appellee
    v.
    KEVIN WILMAR GARCIA-VASQUEZ, also known as Kevin Wilmar Portillo-
    Garcia,
    Defendant-Appellant
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Texas
    USDC No. 4:19-CR-603-1
    Before HIGGINBOTHAM, HO, and ENGELHARDT, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM: *
    Kevin Wilmar Garcia-Vasquez appeals the 27-month sentence imposed
    following his guilty plea conviction for being found unlawfully in the United
    States following a previous removal.               He argues that the recidivism
    enhancement under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) is unconstitutional because it allows a
    sentence above the otherwise applicable statutory maximum based on facts
    * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
    be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
    Case: 20-50006     Document: 00515504234      Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/27/2020
    No. 20-50006
    that are neither alleged in the indictment or found by a jury beyond a
    reasonable doubt. Garcia-Vasquez correctly concedes that his argument is
    foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 
    523 U.S. 224
    (1998), but he
    raises the issue to preserve for further possible review. See United States v.
    Wallace, 
    759 F.3d 486
    , 497 (5th Cir. 2014); United States v. Pineda-Arrellano,
    
    492 F.3d 624
    , 625–26 (5th Cir. 2007).
    The Government has filed an unopposed motion for summary affirmance
    and, alternatively, seeks an extension of time to file its brief. Because the issue
    is foreclosed, 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; and, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
    2