Reyes

United States v. Reyes

Good Law
73 F. App'x 927
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitAugust 19, 2003No. 02-35624; D.C. No. CV-01-00032A-JMF, CR-98-00172-JKSCalifornia379 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Maria Reyes appeals from an order of the district court denying relief from her conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 . In this collateral attack pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 , Reyes seeks a new trial, alleging that the failure to submit the question of drug quantity to the jury was a clear error requiring reversal under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 , 120 S.Ct. 2348 , 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Reyes argues that the district court mistakenly imposed a mandatory minimum sentence, under 21 U.S.C. § 841 (b)(1)(a), using drug quantities from counts in the indictment on which Reyes had been acquitted by the jury-

We need not decide whether Reyes’ claim was procedurally defaulted because Reyes cannot prevail on the merits of the claim. Apprendi is not implicated unless the application of drug quantities that were not found beyond a reasonable doubt by the jury increases the sentence above the statutory maximum. United States v. Ochoa, 311 F.3d 1133, 1136 (9th Cir.2002); United States v. Sanchez-Cervantes, 282 F.3d 664, 669 (9th Cir.2002). Although she alleges that the conspiracy count in the indictment under which she…

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