United States v. Francisco Fuentes
2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 10230
| 7th Cir. | 2017Background
- Fuentes was charged with illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2); he pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement.
- The plea agreement and presentence report (PSR) applied an 8-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(1)(C) because of a prior burglary conviction classified as an "aggravated felony."
- The parties agreed to a 3-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, yielding an advisory Guidelines range of 24–30 months.
- At the change-of-plea and sentencing hearings, the court explained the enhancement and Fuentes repeatedly confirmed he understood and agreed with the calculations.
- Fuentes’s sentencing memorandum expressly stated he agreed with the PSR calculations, including that his prior burglary qualified as an aggravated felony.
- At sentencing Fuentes objected to one factual PSR point (which the court corrected) but did not object to the base offense level or the 8-level enhancement; the court sentenced him to 24 months.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Fuentes may challenge the 8-level aggravated-felony enhancement on appeal | Fuentes contends the prior burglary was not an aggravated felony and the enhancement was applied in error | Government argues Fuentes waived the challenge by agreeing to the enhancement in plea agreement and at hearings | Waived: appellate review precluded because Fuentes intentionally relinquished the right to contest the Guidelines range |
Key Cases Cited
- United States v. Brodie, 507 F.3d 527 (7th Cir. 2007) (distinguishes waiver from forfeiture; intentional relinquishment precludes review)
- United States v. Armour, 804 F.3d 859 (7th Cir. 2015) (finding waiver where defendant objected to some PSR matters but not applicable Guidelines range)
