Maldonado

MEMORANDUM **

Elias Maldonado appeals from the 51-month sentence imposed following a guilty-plea conviction for unlawful reentry by a deported alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (a). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Maldonado contends that the doctrine of constitutional avoidance requires limiting his sentence to two years, the statutory maximum under 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (a), because he did not admit his prior conviction and it was not proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. This argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 , 118 S.Ct. 1219 , 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). See also United States v. Weiland, 420 F.3d 1062 , 1079 n. 16 (9th Cir.2005) (noting that Almendarez-Torres is binding precedent unless and until it is explicitly overruled by the Supreme Court).

*699 Maldonado also contends that his 51-month sentence is unreasonable because the district court refused to reduce his sentence to account for the unwarranted sentencing disparities caused by the lack of fast-track systems in some districts. This contention is foreclosed by United States v. Marcial-Santiago, 447 F.3d 715, 719 (9th Cir.2006) (concluding…