UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

__________________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

JOSE CIPRIANO MENDIAS-CHAVEZ,

Defendant-Appellant.

No. 00-3412

(D. Kan.)

(D.Ct. No. 00-CR-10093-JTM)
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ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before SEYMOUR, McKAY, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Appellant Jose Cipriano Mendias-Chavez appeals his sentence after pleading guilty to illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (a) and (b)(2). The district court sentenced Mr. Mendias-Chavez to sixty months in prison. The district court's sentencing calculation included a sixteen-level enhancement for Mr. Mendias-Chavez's prior conviction of an aggravated felony. See 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2); United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2L1.2(b)(1)(A). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

On appeal, Mr. Mendias-Chavez argues his sentence is unconstitutional under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000) because the indictment did not charge him with the prior aggravated felony offense. In so doing, Mr. Mendias-Chavez acknowledges the United States Supreme Court has squarely rejected his position in Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), as has this court in United States v. Martinez-Villalva, 232 F.3d 1329 (10th Cir. 2000). Nevertheless, Mr. Mendias-Chavez states he is raising an Apprendi argument to preserve it for further review before the Supreme Court.

We review the district court's application and interpretation of the United States Sentencing Guidelines de novo. See Martinez-Villalva, 232 F.3d at 1332. As Mr. Mendias-Chavez notes, the issue in this case is identical to that previously analyzed and decided by the Supreme Court in Almendarez-Torres, and this circuit in Martinez. For judicial economy, we will not repeat the same analysis here, other than to conclude that the district court's imposition of a sixteen-level enhancement based on Mr. Mendias-Chavez's prior aggravated felony conviction does not violate Apprendi.

Accordingly, we AFFIRM Mr. Mendias-Chavez's sentence.

Entered by the Court:

WADE BRORBY

United States Circuit Judge