Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-16-40511/USCOURTS-ca5-16-40511-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Abel Lopez
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 16-40511

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ABEL LOPEZ,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Texas

USDC No. 2:14-CR-96-1

Before DENNIS, HAYNES, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

In 2014, Abel Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export firearms from 

the United States and possession of a firearm by an undocumented alien and 

was sentenced to a total of 180 months of imprisonment. A panel of this court

dismissed Lopez’s direct appeal as frivolous. See United States v. Lopez, 607 

F. App’x 422 (5th Cir. 2015). In June 2016, Lopez filed a letter with the district 

court that was docketed as a notice of appeal in the instant case. He now moves 

for appointment of counsel on appeal.

 

* 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

August 1, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 16-40511 Document: 00513618653 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/01/2016
No. 16-40511

2

Even assuming arguendo that Lopez’s letter can be liberally construed 

as a proper notice of appeal, it was filed almost two years after the final 

judgment was entered, more than a year after the last activity in the file, and 

well beyond the time for extending the appeal period under Federal Rule of 

Appellate Procedure 4(b)(4). See FED. R. APP. P. 4(b)(1)(A)(i), (b)(4). Moreover, 

Lopez has already appealed that judgment. Accordingly, the appeal is frivolous 

and is DISMISSED. 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Lopez’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel is DENIED.

 Case: 16-40511 Document: 00513618653 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/01/2016