Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caDC-12-03096/USCOURTS-caDC-12-03096-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Raul Arturo Fernandez
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

No. 12-3096 September Term, 2015

FILED ON: DECEMBER 1, 2015

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

APPELLEE

v.

RAUL ARTURO FERNANDEZ,

APPELLANT

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the District of Columbia

(No. 1:10-cr-00018-4)

Before: KAVANAUGH and WILKINS, Circuit Judges, and EDWARDS, Senior Circuit Judge.

J U D G M E N T

This appeal was considered on the record from the United States District Court for the 

District of Columbia and on the briefs of the parties. The Court has afforded the issues full 

consideration and has determined that they do not warrant a published opinion. See D.C. Cir. R. 

36(d). It is

ORDERED and ADJUDGED that the appeal be DISMISSED.

Raul Arturo Fernandez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine with the 

intent that it would be imported into the United States. His plea agreement included a provision 

waiving his right to appeal. During Fernandez’s plea colloquy, the District Court thoroughly 

explained the appeal waiver, and Fernandez indicated that he understood the waiver. The District 

Court then found that Fernandez’s waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. 

Subsequently, the District Court sentenced Fernandez to 144 months in prison, a term within the 

agreed-upon guideline range. Fernandez now seeks to challenge his sentence on appeal, arguing 

that the sentence is unreasonable.

Appeal waivers are enforceable, subject to a few limited exceptions, as long as they are 

entered into by the defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. United States v. Guillen, 

561 F.3d 527, 529-31 (D.C. Cir. 2009). On appeal, Fernandez offers no challenge to the validity 

of his appeal waiver. His opening brief makes no mention of the waiver. And he did not file a

reply brief after the Government, in its brief as appellee, expressly requested enforcement of the 

USCA Case #12-3096 Document #1585937 Filed: 12/01/2015 Page 1 of 2
appeal waiver. In light of the appeal waiver, we dismiss Fernandez’s appeal.

Pursuant to D.C. Circuit Rule 36, this disposition will not be published. The Clerk is 

directed to withhold issuance of the mandate herein until seven days after resolution of any timely 

petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc. See Fed. R. App. P. 41(b); D.C. Cir. R. 41.

Per Curiam

FOR THE COURT:

Mark J. Langer, Clerk

BY: /s/

Ken Meadows

Deputy Clerk

USCA Case #12-3096 Document #1585937 Filed: 12/01/2015 Page 2 of 2