Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrey SAVELYEV, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-02-08
Citations: 410 F. App'x 600
Docket Number: No. 10-4622
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrey SAVELYEV, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before DUNCAN, DAVIS, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 410
Pages: 600–601

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Andrey SAVELYEV, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 10-4622.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: Jan. 25, 2011.
Decided: Feb. 8, 2011.
Lawrence H. Woodward, Jr., Shuttle-worth, Ruloff, Swain, Haddad Morecock, P.C., Virginia Beach, Virginia, for Appellant. Stephen Westley Haynie, Assistant United States Attorney, Norfolk, Virginia, for Appellee.
Before DUNCAN, DAVIS, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Dismissed in part; affirmed in part by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Andrey Savelyev appeals from his conviction and twenty-four month sentence entered pursuant to his guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (2006). Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), concluding that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal but questioning whether Savelyev knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal, and whether the court properly ruled on the obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement. In his pro se supplemental brief, Savelyev asserts that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. The Government filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the basis of the appellate waiver contained in Savelyev's plea agreement.
A defendant may waive the right to appeal if that waiver is knowing and intelligent. United States v. Poindexter, 492 F.3d 263, 270 (4th Cir.2007). Our independent review of the record supports the conclusion that Savelyev voluntarily and knowingly waived his right to appeal. Thus, we conclude that the waiver is valid and enforceable.
However, even a valid waiver does not waive all appellate claims. Specifically, a valid appeal waiver does not preclude a challenge to a sentence on the ground that it exceeds the statutory maximum or is based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race, arises from the denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea based on ineffective assistance of counsel, or relates to claims concerning a violation of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in proceedings following the guilty plea. United States v. Johnson, 410 F.3d 137, 151 (4th Cir.2005). The only claim raised by Save-lyev that falls outside the scope of his appellate waiver is his assertion that counsel was ineffective. In addition, we are charged under Anders with reviewing the record for unwaived error. Thus, we grant the Government's motion to dismiss in part and dismiss the claims raised by counsel in his Anders brief. We deny the motion to dismiss with regard to Save-lyev's ineffective assistance claim.
Although Savelyev's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is not barred by the terms of his appellate waiver, we nevertheless cannot entertain it. Ineffective assistance of counsel claims are generally not cognizable on direct appeal. United States v. King, 119 F.3d 290, 295 (4th Cir.1997). Rather, to allow for adequate development of the record, a defendant must bring such a claim in a 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp.2010) motion. See id. An exception exists when the record conclusively establishes ineffective assistance. United States v. Richardson, 195 F.3d 192, 198 (4th Cir.1999). The record before us fails to conclusively establish ineffective assistance. Thus, Savelyev's claim is not cognizable on direct appeal.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record in this case and have found no unwaived and meritorious issues for appeal. We therefore dismiss in part and affirm in part. This court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If the client 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 the client. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED IN PART; AFFIRMED IN PART.