Case ID: f-appx_603/html/0583-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. KI CHONG YOO, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 14-10168.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted March 13, 2015.
    
    Filed March 24, 2015.
    Andrew Duncan, Assistant U.S., Eric Johnson, Esquire, Assistant U.S., USLV-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Las Vegas, NV, Elizabeth Olson White, Esquire, Assistant U.S., Usre-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Reno, NV, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Todd M. Leventhal, Esquire, Special Counsel, Leventhal and Associates, Las Vegas, NV, for Defendant-Appellant.
    
      Before: WALLACE, M. SMITH, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Ki Chong Yoo, a native of South Korea, pled guilty to numerous charges stemming from a conspiracy to commit Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Racketeering by traveling from California to Nevada to rob a family. In exchange for pleading guilty, Yoo received a ten-year prison sentence, and waived his right to appeal the sentence imposed. Yoo subsequently filed a motion to dismiss his counsel, which the court granted, and to withdraw his plea agreement, which the court denied. The court sentenced Yoo to ten years in prison. Yoo appeals, arguing that inaccurate translations and cultural differences rendered his guilty plea invalid, and deprived him of his constitutional right to counsel. We affirm.

The “circumstances surrounding the signing and entry of [Yoo’s] plea agreement” indicate that Yoo knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal the denial of his motion withdrawing his guilty plea. United States v. Anglin, 215 F.3d 1064, 1066 (9th Cir.2000); United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259 (9th Cir.2011). Yoo’s statements made “during a guilty plea ■ hearing carry a strong presumption of veracity in subsequent proceedings attacking the plea.” United States v. Ross, 511 F.3d 1233, 1236 (9th Cir.2008).

In signing his plea agreement, Yoo acknowledged that no one had made any •threats or promises to him, or had forced him to plead guilty. When asked if he was pleading guilty “because of any coercion or fear of any co-defendants,” Yoo replied, “No, there’s nothing like that.” The court repeatedly advised Yoo that it was entirely his choice whether to accept the plea agreement or go to trial, and gave Yoo numerous chances to either “go forward with the plea agreement,” or “go to trial.” Yoo stated, “I will follow the agreement.” The court asked Yoo several times whether he understood his options and the terms of the plea agreement. Yoo asked for clarification when he did not understand, and agreed with the court’s statement that he was “willing to accept the binding Plea Agreement and ... sentence of 120 months.”

The record does not support Yoo’s contention that his plea agreement was accepted unknowingly or involuntarily.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.