United States v. Graciela Toledo
Opinion
In this direct criminal appeal, Graciela Toledo challenges the judgment and sentence imposed by the district court 1 after she pleaded guilty to a drug offense. Her counsel has moved to withdraw and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967).
Toledo’s plea agreement contains an appeal waiver, and we will enforce it. See United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889-92 (8th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (court should enforce appeal waiver and dismiss appeal where it falls within scope of waiver, both plea agreement and waiver were entered into knowingly and voluntarily, and no miscarriage of justice would result). Toledo’s arguments on appeal fall within the scope of the appeal waiver, the record shows the requisite knowledge and volun-tariness, and we see nothing to suggest that a miscarriage of justice would result from enforcing the appeal waiver. See id. at 890-91 (“One important way a district court can help ensure that a plea agreement and corresponding waiver are entered into knowingly and voluntarily is to properly question a defendant about his or her decision to enter that agreement and waive the right to appeal.”) Further, any ineffective-assistance claim is not properly raised in this direct criminal appeal, see United States v. Ramirez-Hernandez, 449 F.3d 824, 827 (8th Cir. 2006); and we find nothing in the record to suggest the government breached the plea agreement.
Having reviewed the record independently pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), for any nonfrivolous issues not covered by the waiver, we find none. Accordingly, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw, and we dismiss the appeal.
. The Honorable Jean C. Hamilton, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Graciela TOLEDO, Also Known as Esmeralda Moreno, Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished