Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-19-50272/USCOURTS-ca5-19-50272-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Edgardo Grande
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-50272

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

EDGARDO GRANDE,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 3:18-CR-3088-1

Before CLEMENT, ELROD, and OLDHAM, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Edgardo Grande pleaded guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, 

to importing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a), and was 

sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment. He now contends that the sentence

imposed is unreasonable. The Government asserts that the appeal is barred by 

the waiver-of-appeal provision in Grande’s plea agreement. We agree with the 

Government. 

* 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 14, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

Case: 19-50272 Document: 00515381385 Page: 1 Date Filed: 04/14/2020
No. 19-50272

2

Grande’s newly raised argument that his plea deal was unconscionable 

is without merit. This court has long held that a defendant may waive his 

statutory right to appeal as part of a valid plea agreement so long as the waiver 

is knowing and voluntary. See, e.g., United States v. Higgins, 739 F.3d 733, 736 

(5th Cir. 2014); United States v. Jacobs, 635 F.3d 778, 781 (5th Cir. 2011).

Grande does not argue that his waiver was unknowing or involuntary. 

The appeal waiver in the plea agreement therefore bars Grande’s 

challenge to the sentence. Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED.

Case: 19-50272 Document: 00515381385 Page: 2 Date Filed: 04/14/2020