Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricky Bradley COOKE, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-09-19
Citations: 697 F. App'x 216
Docket Number: No. 16-4812
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricky Bradley COOKE, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before MOTZ, WYNN, and THACKER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 697
Pages: 216–216

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricky Bradley COOKE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 16-4812
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: August 28, 2017
Decided: September 19, 2017
James B. Craven III, Durham, North Carolina, for Appellant. Anand P. Ramas-wamy, Assistant United States Attorney, Greensboro, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Before MOTZ, WYNN, and THACKER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Ricky Bradley Cooke pled guilty to aiding and abetting in the transportation of an individual with the intent that such individual engage in the business of prostitution, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 (2012), and 18 U.S.C.A. § 2421 (West 2015 & Supp. 2017). The district court sentenced Cooke to a term of imprisonment in accordance with the Sentencing Guidelines range and the statutory maximum for that offense. Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), stating that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal. Although notified of his right to do so, Cooke has not filed a pro se brief. After careful consideration of the entire record, we affirm.
Our review reflects that Cooke knowingly and intelligently pled guilty pursuant to a valid plea agreement, and that his sentence is procedurally and substantially reasonable. Cooke argues that the appellate waiver in his plea agreement does not bar his current appeal because prosecutors committed misconduct when, in a separate 2015 case, they filed an affidavit that allegedly contained perjured statements. The 2015 case was dismissed, however, and Cooke is not serving a sentence related to that 2015 case. Thus, this claim is merit-less.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire record in this case.and have found no meritorious grounds for appeal. We therefore affirm the district court's judgment. We deny counsel's motion to withdraw at this stage of the proceedings. Counsel is required to inform Cooke, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Cooke 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 Cooke.
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.
AFFIRMED