United States v. Alberto Bota

NOT PRECEDENTIAL IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT NO. 09-3397 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ALBERTO LUIS BOTA, Appellant On Appeal From the United States District Court For the Middle District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Action No. 1-09-cr-00041-001) District Judge: Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) May 28, 2010 BEFORE: McKEE, Chef Judge, RENDELL and STAPLETON, Circuit Judges (Opinion Filed : June 3, 2010) OPINION OF THE COURT STAPLETON, Circuit Judge: Alberto Bota appeals his conviction, following a guilty plea, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. His attorney has moved to withdraw his representation under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967). We will grant the motion to withdraw and will affirm the District Court’s judgment. This Court’s rules provide that “[w]here, upon review of the district court record, trial counsel is persuaded that the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, counsel may file a motion to withdraw and supporting brief pursuant to Anders.” 3d Cir. LAR 109.2(a). If we concur with trial counsel’s assessment, we “will grant [the] Anders motion, and dispose of the appeal without appointing new counsel.” Id. Accordingly, our “inquiry when counsel submits an Anders brief is thus twofold . . .: (1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled the rule’s requirements; and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). Our review of the record has convinced us that trial counsel’s Anders brief is adequate and that there are no nonfrivolous grounds on which to challenge the judgment 2 of conviction. Accordingly, we will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and will affirm the judgment of the District Court. In addition, we certify that the issues presented in this appeal lack legal merit and thus that counsel is not required to file a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. 3d Cir. LAR 109.2(b). 3