United States v. Gonzalez, 71 F. App'x 399 (5th Cir. 2003).
United States v. Gonzalez, 71 F. App'x 399 (5th Cir. 2003). Book View Copy Cite
United States
v.
Gonzalez
02-21032.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Aug 19, 2003.
71 F. App'x 399
Unpublished
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT August 20, 2003

Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 02-21032
Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

MANUEL GONZALEZ, also known as
Miguel Castaneda,

Defendant-Appellant.

--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. H-02-CR-187-3
--------------------

Before JONES, WIENER, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Manuel Gonzalez appeals his guilty plea conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms re of cocaine. Gonzalez argues that 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a) and (b) were rendered facially unconstitutional by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000). Gonzalez concedes that his argument is foreclosed by our opinion in United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 581-82 (5th Cir. 2000)(revised opinion),

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.

No. 02-21032 -2- cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1045 (2001), which rejected a broad Apprendi-based attack on the constitutionality of that statute. He raises the issue only to preserve it for Supreme Court review. A panel of this court cannot overrule a prior panel’s decision in the absence of an intervening contrary or superseding decision by this court sitting en banc or by the United States Supreme Court. Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 466 (5th Cir. 1999). No such decision overruling Slaughter exists. Accordingly, Gonzalez’s argument is foreclosed.

AFFIRMED.