United States v. Daniels

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,  Plaintiff-Appellee, v.  No. 02-4415 ANTHONY JEROME DANIELS, a/k/a Ant, Defendant-Appellant.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at Statesville. Richard L. Voorhees, District Judge. (CR-99-11-V) Submitted: December 17, 2002 Decided: January 15, 2003 Before WILKINS and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. COUNSEL Eric A. Bach, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellant. Gretchen C.F. Shappert, Assistant United States Attorney, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellee. 2 UNITED STATES v. DANIELS Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c). OPINION PER CURIAM: Anthony Jerome Daniels appeals from his conviction and 180- month sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (2000). Daniels’ counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), in which he raises three issues: (1) whether the Rule 11 hearing was adequate under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11; (2) whether the district court correctly applied the Sentencing Guidelines; and (3) whether the court properly denied his motion for a downward depar- ture under U. S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 4A1.3 (2000). Dan- iels filed a pro se supplemental brief arguing violations of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), double jeopardy, and prosecu- torial misconduct. After reviewing the record, it is clear Daniels has waived his right to appeal in his plea agreement. A defendant may waive the right to appeal if that waiver is both knowing and intelligent. See United States v. Broughton-Jones, 71 F.3d 1143, 1146 (4th Cir. 1995). This Court reviews the validity of a waiver de novo. See United States v. Marin, 961 F.2d 493, 496 (4th Cir. 1992). Because the district court fully questioned Daniels regarding the waiver of his right to appeal during the Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 colloquy, the waiver is both valid and enforceable. See United States v. Wes- sells, 936 F.2d 165, 167-68 (4th Cir. 1991); United States v. Wiggins, 905 F.2d 51, 53-54 (4th Cir. 1990). Although Daniels waived his appellate rights, he may raise allega- tions of prosecutorial misconduct on appeal. However, Daniels’ con- tentions that the Government ran a "sham" on the court "by acting as UNITED STATES v. DANIELS 3 if the indictment in this case charged a Federal offense" and created an "illusionary plea agreement," are baseless and unsupported. In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire record in this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal. We there- fore affirm Daniels’ conviction and sentence. This 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 peti- tion would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel’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. AFFIRMED