United States v. Rivera Santana

USCA1 Opinion








April 23, 1996
[NOT FOR PUBLICATION]

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT



____________________


No. 95-1285

UNITED STATES,

Appellee,

v.

HECTOR RIVERA SANTANA,

Defendant, Appellant.


____________________

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

[Hon. Gilberto Gierbolini-Ortiz, Senior U.S. District Judge] __________________________

____________________

Before

Selya, Boudin and Stahl,
Circuit Judges. ______________

____________________

Arthur R. Silen and Roberts & Newman, P.A. on brief for _________________ __________________________
appellant.
Guillermo Gil, United States Attorney, and Charles E. _______________ ____________
Fitzwilliam, Assistant U.S. Attorney, on Motion for Summary ___________
Disposition for appellee.


____________________


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Per Curiam. Defendant's counsel has submitted an Anders __________ ______

brief and motion to withdraw, asserting that there are no

meritorious issues to be raised on appeal. See Anders v. ___ ______

State of California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967); 1st Cir. Loc. ____________________

R. 46.4(a)(4). Defendant has not filed a separate brief, and

the government has moved for summary dismissal of this

appeal. As required by Anders, we have conducted a full ______

examination of the proceedings. Based on that examination,

we conclude that this appeal is wholly frivolous as it

presents no issue having an arguable basis in law or fact.

The undisputed facts amply support defendant's

conviction of the crimes charged, and the plea change hearing

covered all the necessary points. Further, defendant

received the benefit of the safety valve provision, 18 U.S.C.

3553(f). The court properly proceeded under the sentencing

guidelines to calculate the base offense level for the amount

of cocaine involved and to give defendant the full three-

level credit for his acceptance of responsibility. Defendant

received the minimum sentence and release terms under the

applicable guidelines range. Hence, there is no arguable

appellate issue as to defendant's conviction, plea, and

sentence.

Moreover, no appealable issue arises as to defendant's

requests for an additional downward adjustment or departure.

Defendant did not pursue those requests at the sentencing



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hearing, so they may be deemed waived. In any case he

presented no particular facts justifying such an adjustment

or departure based on either his role in the offense or his

family responsibilities.

Counsel's motion to withdraw is granted, and appellant's _______

conviction and sentence are affirmed. See 1st Cir. Loc. R. ________ ___

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