Case Explained: United States v. Trujillo

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-10 Docket: 4:25-CR-00265-SEH-1) The tenth-circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment upholding a forty-six-month prison sentence imposed for unlawful reentry of a removed alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2). Reviewing for plain error due to the defendant’s failure to object at sentencing, the panel held that the district court did not violate Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(i)(1) by relying on facts regarding the defendant’s drug trafficking behavior and relationships with drug trafficking organizations. The court found these factual findings were supported by the Presentence Investigation Report and the defendant’s prior convictions, meaning they were not clearly erroneous. Additionally, even assuming error, the defendant failed to demonstrate prejudice affecting his substantial rights because the district court based its sentence on broader Section 3553(a) factors, including serious criminal history and habitual reentry, such that there was no reasonable probability a lesser sentence would have resulted. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.