Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. James BRANCH, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-05-30
Citations: 690 F. App'x 831
Docket Number: No. 16-4766
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. James BRANCH, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before MOTZ, THACKER, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 690
Pages: 831–832

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. James BRANCH, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 16-4766
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: May 25, 2017
Decided: May 30, 2017
Thomas P. McNamara, Federal Public Defender, Eric J. Brignac, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellant. Jennifer P. May-Parker, Assistant United States Attorney, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Before MOTZ, THACKER, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
James Branch appeals the 60-month sentence imposed by the district court after his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (2012). Branch's attorney has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), concluding there are no meritorious grounds for appeal but questioning whether Branch's sentence is substantively reasonable. Although notified of his right to file a pro se brief, Branch has not done so. The Government has moved to dismiss the appeal as barred by the appeal waiver in Branch's plea agreement. We dismiss the appeal.
We review de novo the validity of an appeal waiver. United States v. Copeland, 707 F.3d 522, 528 (4th Cir. 2013). A defendant's waiver is valid if he agreed to it "knowingly and intelligently." United States v. Manigan, 592 F.3d 621, 627 (4th Cir. 2010). An appeal waiver generally is enforceable "if the record establishes that the waiver is valid and that the issue being appealed is within the scope of the waiver." United States v. Thornsbury, 670 F.3d 532, 537 (4th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Upon review of the plea agreement and the transcript of the Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 hearing, we conclude that Branch knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal and that the sentencing issue Branch seeks to raise on appeal falls squarely within the scope of his waiver of appellate rights. Moreover, in accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record for any potentially meritorious issues that might fall outside the scope of the waiver and have found none. See Copeland, 707 F.3d at 529-30. Accordingly, we grant the Government's motion. to dismiss the appeal.
This court requires that counsel inform Branch, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Branch requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such' a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was.served on Branch. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED