IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 99-30184 Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

RICKEY D. DAVIS, also known as Rickey Davis,

Defendant-Appellant.

- - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana USDC No. 98-CR-175-ALL-N - - - - - - - - - -

October 19, 1999

Before JONES, SMITH, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Rickey D. Davis appeals his sentence following his guilty-

plea conviction for one count of bank robbery. As part of his

plea agreement, Davis waived his right to appeal his sentence on

any ground but reserved his right to appeal any punishment that

was imposed in excess of the statutory maximum or that

constituted an upward departure from the applicable guideline

range. Davis does not contend, nor does the record indicate,

that his sentence was in excess of the statutory maximum or the

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 99-30184 -2-

result of an upward departure. In addition, Davis does not

contend, nor does the record indicate, that the waiver of his

right to appeal was not valid. See United States v. Portillo,

(5th Cir. 1994). His retained counsel, Stuart

Vess, failed to address the waiver in the appeal brief and failed

to file a reply brief in response to the Government’s assertion

of the waiver. We warn counsel that pursuing frivolous appeals

invites sanctions. See United States v. Gaitan,

(5th Cir. 1999).

Accordingly, the instant appeal is barred by Davis’s waiver

of his right to appeal and is DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS. See 5TH

CIR. R. 42.2.