Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jasper RIVERA, also known as Diablo, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-08-26
Citations: 143 F. App'x 622
Docket Number: No. 04-41288
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jasper RIVERA, also known as Diablo, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before BARKSDALE, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 143
Pages: 622–623

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jasper RIVERA, also known as Diablo, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-41288.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Aug. 26, 2005.
Robert Lavelle Hobbs, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Beaumont, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Frank Warren Henderson, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Tyler, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BARKSDALE, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Jasper Rivera appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction on one count of carjacking and one count of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119, 924(c). Rivera contends that certain sentencing enhancements violate the Sixth Amendment rule announced in United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), and the district court erred by adjusting his offense level for abducting his victims. Neither Rivera nor the Government addresses the effect of the appeal-waiver in Rivera's written plea agreement. We examine that waiver sua sponte. See United States v. Martinez, 263 F.3d 436, 438 (5th Cir.2001); cf. United States v. Rhodes, 253 F.3d 800, 804 (5th Cir.2001) (disregarding waiver provision where Government expressly chose not to rely on it).
Our review of the guilty-plea hearing transcript demonstrates the waiver was both informed and voluntary. See United States v. Portillo, 18 F.3d 290, 292-93 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 893, 115 S.Ct. 244, 130 L.Ed.2d 166 (1994); United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 568 (5th Cir.1992). Rivera's challenges do not fall within any of the four exceptions to the waiver (punishment exceeding the statutory maximum; upward departure; arithmetic errors in guideline calculations; and ineffective assistance of counsel that affects the waiver's validity). See, e.g., United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542 (5th Cir.2005) ("statutory maximum" in waiver refers to maximum allowed by statute, not the guideline maximum authorized by guilty plea or jury verdict); United States v. McKinney, 406 F.3d 744, 746-47 (5th Cir.2005) (sentence imposed in violation of Booker rule did not constitute upward departure). Accordingly, Rivera's appeal is DISMISSED because it is barred by his waiver.
Counsel are cautioned that failure in the future to brief the effect of an appeal-waiver may result in the imposition of sanctions.
DISMISSED.
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.