X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Before WIENER, HAYNES, and COSTA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Ubaldo Olguin Padilla is a native and citizen of Mexico admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 1992. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirmed the immigration judge’s (IJ) finding of removability and discretionary denial of Padilla’s application for cancellation of removal. Padilla was found to be removable based on a finding that his 2011 Texas conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver was a violation of a state law “relating to a controlled substance” as defined in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II); see TEX. Health & SAFETY Code § 481.112. In his petition for review, Padilla contends that § 481.112 does not “relate to” a federally controlled substance because it punishes, in the least, an offer to sell drugs that turn out to be counterfeit, whereas the CSA does not punish delivery of simulated or fake drugs. See Matter of Sanchez-Cornejo, 25 I. & N. Dec. 273, 275 (BIA 2010). Padilla also challenges the BIA’s denial of his request for cancellation of removal. I. We first address whether Padilla’s state conviction for possession of meth with intent to deliver was an offense “relating to a controlled substance” that rendered him removable. 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II). It was. Amolegbe v. Holder, 319 F. App’x 344, 344-45 (5th Cir. 2009) (holding that a Texas conviction for delivery of cocaine “constitutes a state crime ‘relating to a controlled substance’”).[1] The premise of Padilla’s argument—that delivery under § 481.112 includes an offer to sell fake or counterfeit drugs—is erroneous. Regardless whether an offered substance ends up being counterfeit as a factual matter, in terms of the elements of the offense an offer to sell is an offer to sell an actual Penalty Group 1 drug. See § 481.112(a) (prohibiting the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver of “a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1″); Stewart v. State, 718 S.W.2d 286, 288 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (holding that delivery of a controlled substance by offer to sell “is complete when, by words or deed, a person knowingly or intentionally offers to sell what he states is a controlled substance”) (emphasis added). The nature of the substance ultimately delivered is immaterial and need not be proven. See Iniguez v. State, 835 S.W.2d 167, 171 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992) (holding that an offer to sell satisfies § 481.112 “regardless of . . . whether the substance transferred is an actual controlled substance or not”). Padilla points to no Texas case applying § 481.112 to an offer to sell that did not propose the transfer of an actual drug.[2] Rodriguez v. State, 879 S.W.2d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1994), involved an offer to sell undercover agents an actual controlled substance—cocaine—but flour ended up being delivered. Rodriguez, 879 S.W.2d at 284. The appellate court reversed the defendant’s conviction for delivery under § 482.112, concluding that the more specific statute addressing delivery of simulated drugs (§ 482.002) applied. Id. at 285-86. If anything, Rodriguez shows that § 481.112 does not reach offers to sell counterfeit drugs as the court said the simulated drug offense governed. And although holding that the more specific offense displaced § 481.112 because the actual delivery was for fake drugs, it still recognized that as a general matter the defendant “was subject to conviction under Section 481.112 for offering to sell a controlled substance.” Id. at 285. Nor does Whitfield v. State, 916 S.W.2d 49 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st. Dist.] 1996), support Padilla’s argument that § 481.112 covers conduct unrelated to a controlled substance. Like Rodriguez, Whitfield involved a transaction between several coconspirators and undercover agents for what was held out to be cocaine but turned out not to be a controlled substance at all (it was duct-taped dominoes). Id. at 50-51. As in Rodriguez, Whitfield was convicted under § 481.112 for delivery (by offer to sell) of a controlled substance and argued on appeal that he should instead have been convicted under § 482.002 for delivering a simulated controlled substance. Id. at 51. The state court held that Whitfield was subject to conviction under § 481.112 for “delivery by offering to sell a controlled substance.”[3] Id. at 52 (emphasis in original). Texas caselaw thus confirms what the statutory language and common sense tell us: offering to sell a drug is a crime only when the seller purports to be offering a real controlled substance. Because the state requires an offer to sell a Penalty Group 1 substance, § 481.112 relates to “a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor, included in [the CSA] schedule[s].” 21 U.S.C. § 802(6). Padilla fails to show that the BIA erred in finding that his Texas drug delivery conviction renders him removable. See Lopez-Gomez v. Ashcroft, 263 F.3d 442, 444 (5th Cir. 2001). II. We lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s discretionary decision to deny cancellation of removal. See Tula Rubio v. Lynch, 787 F.3d 288, 290 (5th Cir. 2015). Padilla cites only factfinding error by the IJ, not legal or constitutional error, and, in any event, the IJ’s error was not adopted or relied upon by the BIA, whose order we review. See Vasquez-Martinez v. Holder, 564 F.3d 712, 716 (5th Cir. 2009); Sattani v. Holder, 749 F.3d 368, 370, 372 (5th Cir. 2014); Mikhael v. I.N.S., 115 F.3d 299, 302 (5th Cir. 1997). *** The petition for review is DENIED.

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
October 15, 2024
Dallas, TX

The Texas Lawyer honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in Texas.


Learn More
April 08, 2025 - April 09, 2025
Chicago, IL

Join General Counsel and Senior Legal Leaders at the Premier Forum Designed For and by General Counsel from Fortune 1000 Companies


Learn More
October 15, 2024
Los Angeles, CA

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers & financiers at THE MULTIFAMILY EVENT OF THE YEAR!


Learn More

Summary:In this role, you will conduct legal research, provide analysis, and advise the business on various legal matters. You will assist i...


Apply Now ›

A small diverse Law firm is seeking a Legal Secretary with a minimum of 2 years plus legal experience in Personal Injury and Family Law. Mus...


Apply Now ›

The University of Kentucky (UK) seeks a strategic and collaborative leader with a distinguished scholarly profile to serve as the next Dean ...


Apply Now ›