Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

79 F. App'x 628

United States v. Rivera

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Decided October 21, 2003

This page is marked noindex.

U.S. Courts of Appeals · decided 2003-10-21

Applies 21 U.S.C. § 841 (§ 401 of the Controlled Substances Act)

Relies on Apprendi v. New Jersey · United States of America v. James Slaughter · United States v. Short

Decided 2003-10-21

PER CURIAM . *

¶1 David M. Rivera appeals his guilty-plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his sole argument on appeal, Rivera challenges the constitutionality of 21 U.S.C. § 841 in light *629 of the Supreme Court’s decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). He concedes that his argument is foreclosed by this court’s decision in United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 582 (5th Cir. 2000); however, he raises the issue in order to preserve it for possible further review.

¶2 Rivera’s argument regarding the constitutionality of 21 U.S.C. § 841 is indeed foreclosed by Slaughter, which specifically rejected the argument that Apprendi rendered 21 U.S.C. § 841 facially unconstitutional. Id. This court is bound by its precedent absent an intervening Supreme Court decision or a subsequent en banc decision. See United States v. Short, 181 F.3d 620, 624 (5th Cir.1999). Accordingly, Rivera’s conviction is affirmed.

¶3 AFFIRMED.

*

¶4 Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

/79/fappx/628 · .json · Public domain