               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT




                              No. 00-51013
                          Conference Calendar



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus

MANUEL ESPARZA-ORNELAS,

                                           Defendant-Appellant.

                       - - - - - - - - - -
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                   USDC No. EP-00-CR-951-ALL-H
                       - - - - - - - - - -
                          April 12, 2001

Before JOLLY, HIGGINBOTHAM, and JONES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Manuel Esparza-Ornelas appeals his sentence following his

guilty plea conviction for illegal re-entry after deportation in

violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.    Esparza argues that his sentence

should not have exceeded the two-year maximum sentence under 8

U.S.C. § 1326(a).   Esparza acknowledges that his argument is

foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224

(1998), but he seeks to preserve the issue for Supreme Court

review in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 120 S. Ct. 2348

(2000).

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 00-51013
                              - 2 -

     Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.   See Apprendi,

120 S. Ct. at 2362; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984

(5th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 1214 (2001).   Esparza’s

argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 235.

     The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of

filing an appellee’s brief.   In its motion, the Government asks

that the judgment of the district court be affirmed and that an

appellee’s brief not be required.   The motion is granted.

     AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.
