Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Carlos Diego CRUZ, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2014-02-27
Citations: 558 F. App'x 744
Docket Number: No. 13-10019
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Carlos Diego CRUZ, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: ALARCÓN, O’SCANNLAIN, and FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 558
Pages: 744–745

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Carlos Diego CRUZ, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 13-10019.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Feb. 18, 2014.
Filed Feb. 27, 2014.
Matthew Cassell, Assistant U.S., USTU-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Tucson, AZ, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Carlos Diego Cruz, Phoenix, AZ, pro se.
Dan W. Montgomery, Law Office of Dan Montgomery, Tucson, AZ, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before: ALARCÓN, O’SCANNLAIN, and FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Carlos Diego Cruz appeals from the district court's judgment and challenges the 30-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. We dismiss.
Cruz contends that the district court violated Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32 by failing to consider a departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K3.1. He also contends that his trial counsel was ineffective. The government argues that this appeal is barred by an appeal waiver. We review de novo whether a defendant has waived his right to appeal. See United States v. Harris, 628 F.3d 1203, 1205 (9th Cir.2011). The record reflects that Cruz knowingly and voluntarily entered into an appeal waiver, which barred any right to challenge his conviction and sentence. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal in light of the valid appeal waiver. See id.; see also United States v. Nunez, 223 F.3d 956, 959 (9th Cir.2000) ("[0]ne waives the right to argue ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing on direct appeal when one waives the right to appeal the sentence.").
To the extent Cruz is alleging ineffective assistance in connection with counsel's negotiation of the plea, we decline to consider that claim on direct appeal because the record is insufficiently developed to evaluate Cruz's claim, and trial counsel's legal representation was not so inadequate that it can be concluded at this point that Cruz obviously was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. See United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259-60 (9th Cir.2011).
DISMISSED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.