UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 00-4713
RICKY LEE ADAMS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of North Carolina, at Durham.
N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., Chief District Judge.
(CR-00-76)
Submitted: June 21, 2001
Decided: June 29, 2001
Before WIDENER and GREGORY, Circuit Judges, and
HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
COUNSEL
Thomas H. Eagen, EAGEN & EAGEN, Durham, North Carolina, for
Appellant. Walter C. Holton, Jr., United States Attorney, L. Patrick
Auld, Assistant United States Attorney, Greensboro, North Carolina,
for Appellee.
2 UNITED STATES v. ADAMS
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Ricky Lee Adams appeals his conviction and the 210-month sen-
tence imposed by the district court following his guilty plea to con-
spiracy to distribute in excess of fifty grams of cocaine base, in
violation of 21 U.S.C.A. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), 846 (West Supp.
2000). Adams’ counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. Califor-
nia, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there are no meritorious
issues for appeal, but raising the following claims: (1) whether the
court erred in imposing a two-level enhancement under U.S. Sentenc-
ing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1(b)(1) (1998); (2) whether there was
a sufficient factual basis to support Adams’ guilty plea; and (3)
whether the conspiracy involved a quantity of fifty grams or more of
cocaine base. Adams has filed a pro se supplemental brief. We dis-
miss.
Adams signed a written plea agreement in which he agreed to
waive his right to appeal his sentence on any ground, and his right to
contest the conviction or sentence in any post-conviction proceeding,
except on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecu-
torial misconduct not known to Adams at the time of his guilty plea.
A defendant may waive the right to appeal if that waiver is knowing
and intelligent. United States v. Attar, 38 F.3d 727, 731 (4th Cir.
1994). In determining whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent,
we examine the background, experience, and conduct of the defen-
dant. If the district court fully questions a defendant during the plea
colloquy pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Proce-
dure, regarding the waiver of his right to appeal, generally the waiver
is valid and enforceable. United States v. Wessells, 936 F.2d 165, 167-
68 (4th Cir. 1991).
The transcript of Adams’ Rule 11 hearing reveals that he under-
stood the full significance of the waiver provision of his plea agree-
UNITED STATES v. ADAMS 3
ment. Adams stated that he had reviewed the written plea agreement,
which he signed, with his attorney and that he was satisfied with
counsel’s services. The court summarized the plea agreement, includ-
ing the waiver provision. Adams stated that he understood and agreed
with the summary. When the district court specifically asked Adams
about the waiver, he stated that he understood he was waiving his
right to appeal. On these facts, we find that Adams’ waiver was
knowingly and voluntarily given. Because the only claims Adams’
counsel raised are claims regarding the validity of his guilty plea and
the calculation of his sentence, they are precluded by Adams’ valid
waiver of his appeal rights and we dismiss the appeal on that basis.1
We further reject Adams’ claims raised in his pro se supplemental brief.2
We have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with
the requirements of Anders, and find no meritorious issues for appeal.
We therefore dismiss the appeal of Adams’ conviction and sentence.
The court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his
right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further
review. If the client requests that a petition be filed, but counsel
believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may
move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Coun-
sel’s motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conten-
tions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED
1
We note that, even assuming this Court has jurisdiction to entertain
Adams’ appeal, contrary to Adams’ assertions, the Supreme Court’s
decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), is not impli-
cated in this case because the amount of drugs was charged in the indict-
ment, and Adams’ sentence did not exceed the statutory maximum.
United States v. Kinter, 235 F.3d 192, 199-200 (4th Cir. 2000), cert.
denied, 121 S. Ct. 1393 (2001).
2
To the extent that Adams claims ineffective assistance of counsel,
such claims are better raised in motions pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255
(West Supp. 2000), where, as here, it does not appear conclusively on the
trial record that the defendant was provided ineffective representation.
United States v. Hoyle, 33 F.3d 415, 418-19 (4th Cir. 1994).