Case ID: f-appx_477/html/0877-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "McKEE, Chief Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America v. Eridio POLANCO, Appellant.
    No. 11-2174.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Thursday, April 12, 2012.
    Opinion Filed: May 10, 2012.
    Mark E. Coyne, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Newark, NJ, Glenn J. Moramarco, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Camden, NJ, for United States of America.
    Eridio Polanco, Philipsburg, PA, pro se.
    Paul E. Warburgh, Jr., Esq., Huntington, NY, for Appellant.
    Before: McKEE, Chief Judge, HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge, and  JONES, District Judge.
    
      
       The Honorable C. Darnell Jones, District Court Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
    
   OPINION

McKEE, Chief Judge.

Eridio Polanco pled guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Polanco’s counsel has since filed a motion to withdraw as counsel pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and has represented that there are no non-frivolous grounds for appeal. Polanco has filed a pro se brief in response. For the reasons that follow, we will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment and sentence of the district court.

Because we write primarily for the parties who are familiar with this case we need not set forth the facts or procedural history except to the extent that they clarify our brief discussion.

When counsel files an Anders brief and moves to withdraw, we must determine “(1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled [Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a)’s] requirements; and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001). Counsel is required “(1) to satisfy the court that counsel has thoroughly examined the record in search of appeal-able issues, and (2) to explain why the issues are frivolous.” Id. In conducting an independent review of the record, “we confine our scrutiny to those portions of the record identified by an adequate Anders brief’ and “those issues raised in Appellant’s pro se brief [if any is filed].” Id. at 301. After reviewing counsel’s Anders brief, we are convinced that counsel has satisfied Rule 109.2(a)’s requirements by identifying all appealable issues and explaining why those issues are frivolous.

In his pro se brief, Polanco alleges that he pled guilty with the expectation that he would receive a sentence in the range of 46 to 57 months of imprisonment and that he would be eligible for a safety valve reduction. The record belies Polanco’s allegations. In his application for permission to enter a plea of guilty, Polanco confirmed that he understood that he was facing a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment, and the plea agreement clearly states that his eligibility for a safety valve reduction under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(l) had not yet been determined at the time the agreement was entered into. Moreover, the district court reviewed the plea agreement and ascertained that Polanco understood its terms during the plea colloquy.

Polanco also contends that his counsel was ineffective for failing to explain the consequences of the plea agreement to him. “Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel generally are not entertained on direct appeal.” United States v. Haywood, 155 F.3d 674, 678 (3d Cir.1998). We see nothing that would compel us to make an exception to that rule here. Moreover, our review of the record reveals that there is no basis for an ineffectiveness claim. Thus, we conclude that the issues raised by Polanco are frivolous and that there are no other non-frivolous issues.

For the reasons stated above, we will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the. district court’s sentence.