United States v. Marco Lopez-Sanchez ( 2020 )


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  • Case: 20-50109      Document: 00515540517        Page: 1     Date Filed: 08/25/2020
    United States Court of Appeals
    for the Fifth Circuit                           United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    August 25, 2020
    No. 20-50109
    Lyle W. Cayce
    consolidated with
    Clerk
    No. 20-50115
    Summary Calendar
    United States of America,
    Plaintiff—Appellee,
    versus
    Marco Antonio Lopez-Sanchez,
    Defendant—Appellant.
    Appeals from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Texas
    USDC No. 4:19-CR-619-1
    USDC No. 4:17-CR-157-1
    Before Haynes, Willett, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
    Per Curiam:*
    Marco Antonio Lopez-Sanchez appeals the 21-month prison sentence
    and three-year term of supervised release imposed following his guilty plea
    *
    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    opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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.
    Case: 20-50109      Document: 00515540517           Page: 2    Date Filed: 08/25/2020
    No. 20-50109
    consolidated with
    No. 20-50115
    conviction for being found unlawfully in the United States following removal
    and the revocation of his supervised release. 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
    that are neither alleged in the indictment nor found by a jury beyond a
    reasonable doubt. Lopez-Sanchez 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 it 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 based on Almendarez-Torres and,
    alternatively, seeks an extension of time to file a brief.
    Because Lopez-Sanchez’s sole issue on appeal is foreclosed, summary
    affirmance is appropriate. See Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 
    406 F.2d 1158
    , 1162 (5th Cir. 1969). Lopez-Sanchez has abandoned a challenge to the
    revocation of his supervised release by failing to brief an argument as to the
    revocation. See United States v. Reagan, 
    596 F.3d 251
    , 254-55 (5th Cir. 2010).
    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 judgments of the district court are AFFIRMED.
    2