United States v. Leopoldo Figueroa-Alvarez

LOKEN, Circuit Judge.

Leopoldo Figueroa-Alvarez, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering this country following removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). A violation of § 1326(a) is punishable by “not more than 2 years” imprisonment. But § 1326(b) authorizes imprisonment “not more than 10 years” if a defendant’s prior removal “was subsequent to a conviction for commission of ... a felony,” and “not more than 20 years” if removal was subsequent “to a conviction for commission of an aggravated felony.” At the plea hearing, Figueroa-Alvarez admitted a pre-removal Iowa…