United States v. Morales-Martinez

EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judge:

The defendant, Roberto Morales-Martinez (“Morales-Martinez”), pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). The district court applied a sentencing enhancement after finding that Morales-Martinez has a prior conviction for a drug trafficking offense; Morales- Martinez had previously pleaded guilty to a state charge for delivery of cocaine. Morales-Martinez challenges this enhancement, arguing that his guilty plea in the prior state court conviction did not admit to the facts establishing a drug trafficking offense.

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Morales-Martinez is a…