UNITED STATES v. GONZALEZ (2018)

Luis Rey Gonzalez appeals the 63-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea to illegal reentry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (2012). Gonzalez was sentenced above the 2-year statutory maximum generally applicable to illegal reentry offenses, see 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), based on the sentencing court’s finding, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Gonzalez previously was removed subsequent to a felony conviction and, thus, was subject to an enhanced statutory maximum of 10 years, see 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1). On appeal, Gonzalez contends that his sentence is illegal because the fact of his prior conviction was not charged in the indictment or found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. We affirm.

As Gonzalez acknowledges, his argument is foreclosed by authority from both the Supreme Court and this Court. Generally, the Due Process Clause and the Sixth Amendment require any fact raising the statutory maximum or mandatory minimum penalty for an offense to be charged in the indictment, “submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 476, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000) (statutory maximums); see Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99, 133 S.Ct. 2151, 2163, 186 L.Ed.2d 314 (2013) (extending rule to mandatory minimums). The Supreme Court has recognized an exception to this rule, however, for “the fact of a prior conviction.” Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348. Under that exception, the Constitution permits a judge to find the fact of a prior conviction by a preponderance of the evidence, even if the finding enhances the statutory maximum or mandatory minimum penalty for the current offense. Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 247, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998).

In United States v. McDowell, 745 F.3d 115 (4th Cir. 2014), we recognized the application of Almendarez-Torres to cases in which the defendant does not concede, or affirmatively disputes, the existence of the prior conviction. Id. at 123-24. In so doing, we recognized that more recent Supreme Court authority had called Almendarez-Torres into question, but we concluded that we were bound to apply the holding in Almendarez-Torres, even where the justifications originally animating that holding did not apply. Id. at 124.

Here, Gonzalez argues that Almendarez-Torres was wrongly decided, noting that concurrences in recent Supreme Court authority have cast doubt on its continued vitality. Gonzalez also argues that McDowell represents an unjustified expansion of the Almendarez-Torres exception. “Although the Supreme Court has expressed doubt about the continuing validity of Almendarez-Torres,” however, “it ‘remains good law, and we may not disregard it unless and until the Supreme Court holds to the contrary.’ ” United States v. Bullette, 854 F.3d 261, 264 n.2 (4th Cir. 2017) (quoting McDowell, 745 F.3d at 124). Further, “a panel of this court cannot overrule, explicitly or implicitly, the precedent set by a prior panel of this court. Only the Supreme Court or this court sitting en banc can do that.” United States v. Bullard, 645 F.3d 237, 246 (4th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.