Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-02-51205/USCOURTS-ca5-02-51205-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Ronald Jay Clifton
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

* 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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

April 21, 2004

Charles R. Fulbruge III

Clerk

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

 

No. 02-51205

Conference Calendar

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

RONALD JAY CLIFTON,

Defendant-Appellant.

--------------------

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. MO-02-CR-48-ALL

--------------------

Before JOLLY, JONES, and SMITH, Circuit Judges. 

PER CURIAM:*

Ronald Jay Clifton pleaded guilty to counts one and two of

an information charging him with conspiracy to commit fraud and

securities fraud. Clifton has appealed, raising issues related

to the district court’s upward departure from the guideline

imprisonment range. In his plea agreement, Clifton waived the

right to raise these issues on appeal and the record reflects

that the waiver was knowing and voluntary. See United States v.

Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 567–68 (5th Cir. 1992). We caution

counsel that the assertion of issues on appeal that are plainly

 Case: 02-51205 Document: 0051222693 Page: 1 Date Filed: 04/21/2004
No. 02-51205

-2-

barred by a plea agreement and the failure to explain in briefing

why the defendant’s issues are not waived invites the imposition

of a sanction. See United States v. Martinez, 263 F.3d 436, 438

(5th Cir. 2001). The appeal is

DISMISSED.

 Case: 02-51205 Document: 0051222693 Page: 2 Date Filed: 04/21/2004