Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, v. Osman GARBA, a/k/a Alaji, a/k/a Ishmael, a/k/a Oussoumanou Garba, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-04-13
Citations: 128 F. App'x 855
Docket Number: No. 03-4568
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, v. Osman GARBA, a/k/a Alaji, a/k/a Ishmael, a/k/a Oussoumanou Garba, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 128
Pages: 855–857

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, v. Osman GARBA, a/k/a Alaji, a/k/a Ishmael, a/k/a Oussoumanou Garba, Appellant.
No. 03-4568.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAE 34.1(a) April 4, 2005.
Decided April 13, 2005.
George S. Leone, Mark E. Coyne, Office of United States Attorney, Newark, NJ, for United States of America.
Robert Little, Maplewood, NJ, for Appellant.
Before BARRY, AMBRO and COWEN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
AMBRO, Circuit Judge.
Osman Garba appeals the District Court's (1) denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, (2) denial of his motion to dismiss his indictment under the Speedy Trial Act, and (3) the sentence it imposed. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the District Court's denials of Gar-ba's motions challenging his conviction. However, in light of United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), we vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing.
The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. Our Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. As we write solely for the parties, we do not restate the facts underlying the appeal.
I.
Garba argues that the District Court should have granted the motion to withdraw his guilty plea "because (1) his plea was given under the mistaken belief that he would be able to contest the amount of cocaine involved at a hearing before the sentencing; (2) his plea was the result of ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of the Sixth Amendment; and (3) the plea hearing conducted by the Court violated Rule 11 because Garba was not made aware that at trial the government would have to prove the quantity of cocaine involved to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Garbo, 285 F.Supp.2d 504, 509 (D.N.J.2003). After conducting an evidentiary hearing, the District Court carefully considered each of these arguments at length, applying the framework we described in United States v. Jones, 336 F.3d 245 (3d Cir.2003), and ultimately rejected them.
"[T]here is no absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea," but rather "acceptance of the motion is within the discretion of the trial court." Gov't of V.I. v. Berry, 631 F.2d 214, 219 (3d Cir.1980). We are satisfied that the District Court properly exercised this discretion in a manner consistent with our Circuit's precedent. Its denial of Garba's motion to withdraw his plea was thorough, careful and well-reasoned. We therefore accept its conclusion.
II.
Having upheld the District Court's denial of Garba's motion to withdraw his guilty plea, we can easily dispense with his Speedy Trial Act argument. His unconditional guilty plea (without reservation of the right to challenge the denial of his motion under the Act) operated as a waiver of all claims of pre-existing error (except those going to the Court's jurisdiction). As such, Garba has waived the right to invoke on appeal the denial of his Speedy Trial Act motion.
III.
Only Garba's challenge to his sentence under Booker remains. Having determined that the sentencing issues he raises are best determined by the District Court in the first instance, we vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with Booker.