UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Carlos Antonio PANTOJA-VERDE, Defendant-Appellant, 239 F. App'x 923

PER CURIAM: Appealing the Judgment in a Criminal Case, Carlos Antonio Pantoja-Verde raises arguments that are foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), which held that 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) is a penalty provision and not a separate criminal offense. See United States v. Pineda-Arrellano, 492 F.3d 624, 625 (5th Cir.2007). The Government’s motion for

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 Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.