                                                       United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                December 10, 2003

                                                          Charles R. Fulbruge III
                            No.  03-40639                          Clerk
                        Conference Calendar


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                    Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

RAMON RIVERA-TORRES, also known as Artemio Cardenas,

                                    Defendant-Appellant. 

                        --------------------
           Appeal from the United States District Court
                 for the Eastern District of Texas
                       USDC No.  1:02-CR-115-1
                        --------------------

Before DAVIS, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. 

PER CURIAM:*

     The Federal Public Defender appointed to represent Ramon

Rivera-Torres on direct appeal has filed a motion to withdraw and

a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744

(1967).    Rivera-Torres has not filed a response.    Our independent

review of the brief and the record discloses no nonfrivolous

issue in this direct appeal.    Accordingly, the motion for leave

to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused from further

responsibilities herein, and the APPEAL IS DISMISSED.       See

5TH CIR.  R. 42.2. 


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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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