Case ID: f-appx_674/html/0977-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Westley Kayeon KENNEDY, a.k.a. K.K., Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 15-10780 Non-Argument Calendar
    United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
    Filed (February 2, 2017)
    James C. Stuchell, R. Brian Tanner,Carlton R. Bourne, Jr., James D. Durham, Brian T. Rafferty, Jennifer G. Solari, Edward J. Tarver, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Savannah, GA for Plaintiff-Appellee
    Ricardo Bascuas, University of Miami School of Law, CORAL GABLES, FL, Westley Kayeon Kennedy, USP Coleman I—Inmate Legal Mail, Coleman, FL, for Defendant-Appellant
    Before MARCUS, ROSENBAUM and FAY, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

The government’s motion to dismiss this appeal is GRANTED, in part, as to Kennedy’s argument that his plea agreement is procedurally unconscionable. See United States v. Puentes-Hurtado, 794 F.3d 1278, 1284 (11th Cir. 2015) (noting that a conviction appeal waiver will be enforced if the plea agreement is voluntary and taken in compliance with Rule 11). The government’s motion to dismiss is DENIED with respect to Kennedy’s remaining argument—that his guilty plea was involuntary because his counsel had a conflict of interest—because it is not barred by his guilty plea or the conviction appeal waiver in his plea agreement. See id. at 1281, 1285 (holding that a defendant’s claim that his plea was involuntary and unintelligent because his counsel rendered ineffective assistance is .not barred by a conviction appeal waiver). However, the record is not sufficiently developed to allow meaningful review of Kennedy’s conflict of interest argument on direct appeal. See Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 504-05, 123 S.Ct. 1690, 155 L.Ed.2d 714 (2003). Accordingly, we AFFIRM Kennedy’s conviction, without prejudice to his ability to raise his conflict of interest claim on collateral review.

AFFIRMED.