Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricardo Francisco RODRIGUEZ-HERNANDEZ, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-11-27
Citations: 503 F. App'x 570
Docket Number: No. 11-4147
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricardo Francisco RODRIGUEZ-HERNANDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before MURPHY, ANDERSON, and HARTZ, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 503
Pages: 570–573

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricardo Francisco RODRIGUEZ-HERNANDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 11-4147.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
Nov. 27, 2012.
Dave Backman, Esq., Cy H. Castle, Office of the United States Attorney, Don Brown, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Utah, Utah State Capitol Offices, Salt Lake City, UT, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Jeremy M. Delicino, Salt Lake City, UT, for Defendant-Appellant.
Ricardo Francisco Rodriguez-Hernandez, Pekin, IL, pro se.
Before MURPHY, ANDERSON, and HARTZ, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
HARRIS L. HARTZ, Circuit Judge.
Defendant Ricardo Francisco Rodriguez-Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The United States District Court for the District of Utah sentenced him to 96 months' imprisonment, followed by 60 months of supervised release. Defendant timely appealed.
Discerning no meritorious issues for appeal, defense counsel submitted an Anders brief and a motion for leave to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). As required by Anders, Defendant was provided with a copy of the brief and the clerk of this court sent him a letter informing him that he could respond with any meritorious arguments within 30 days. See id. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (defendant must be given a copy of the Anders brief and provided time to respond). Defendant never responded. Believing the appeal to be wholly frivolous, the United States chose not to submit a brief. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. After independently examining the record, we agree with defense counsel that there are no nonfrivolous grounds for appeal. Accordingly, we grant the motion for leave to withdraw and dismiss the appeal.
I. DISCUSSION
Defense counsel raises two issues that might arguably support an appeal. Both are frivolous. First, because the district court provided Defendant with the right to speak before adjudging the sentence, it did not deny him his right to allocute. See United States v. Mendoza-Lopez, 669 F.3d 1148,1152 (10th Cir.2012). Second, we cannot review any ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim because there are no special circumstances warranting departure from our general rule that such claims should not be considered on direct appeal. See United States v. Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239, 124ÍM1 (10th Cir.1995) (en banc).
We find no other nonfrivolous basis for appeal in the record. The district court did not err in accepting Defendant's guilty plea. Defendant signed a plea agreement that informed him of the elements of his offense and the maximum possible penalty. In it he admitted the underlying facts and stated that he entered into the plea only "after full and careful thought; with the advice of counsel; and with a full understanding of my rights, the facts and circumstances of the case and the consequences of the plea." R., Vol. 1 at 21. At the plea hearing Defendant testified that he understood the plea agreement and the charges against him. Before accepting the plea, the district court confirmed the factual basis of the plea, instructed Defendant that the maximum penalty was life imprisonment, and otherwise adequately ensured the "plea was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary," United States v. Gigot, 147 F.3d 1193, 1197 (10th Cir.1998).
Also, the district court accurately calculated the Guidelines range and imposed a reasonable sentence. Defendant admitted that he possessed 873.7 grams of actual methamphetamine, so his base offense level was 36. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(2) (2010). That level was decreased by two levels because he met the criteria in § 501.2(a) (which are identical to those in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1) — (5)), see id. § 2D1.1(b)(11), and by three additional levels because of his acceptance of responsibility, see id. § 3E1.1, resulting in a total offense level of 31. Defendant requested an offense-level reduction for minor or minimal participation. See § 3B1.2. But the court did not clearly err in finding that he had not established eligibility for the reduction. With a criminal-history score of zero, Defendant had a criminal-history category of I, see id. § 5A, result ing in a Guidelines range of 108 to 135 months, see id. Although the statutory minimum sentence for Defendant's offense is 120 months, see 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A), the district court was required to impose a sentence without regard to the statutory minimum because Defendant met the criteria set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(l)-(5). See also U.S.S.G. § 501.2(a). Based on "the nature and circumstances of the offense" and Defendant's "history and characteristics," 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), the district court varied downward from the Guidelines range, imposing a sentence of 96 months. Because the district court correctly calculated the Guidelines range and imposed a sentence below it, Defendant's sentence is presumptively reasonable, see United States v. Damato, 672 F.3d 832, 848 (10th Cir.2012), and nothing in the record suggests that the presumption could be overcome.
II. CONCLUSION
We GRANT the motion for leave to withdraw and DISMISS the appeal.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously to honor the parties' request for a decision on the briefs without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R.App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.