Opinion ID: 3003404
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: s aul g arcia—c ounsel’s m otion to w ithdraw

Text: Garcia was another Indianapolis drug dealer who purchased methamphetamine from Baltista on multiple occasions. Following Garcia’s arrest on January 19, 2007, police found a drug ledger showing money owed to Garcia for fronted drugs, as well as cash and two rifles. Coconspirators also testified regarding Garcia’s drug transactions. On September 18, a jury found Garcia guilty of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine; Garcia also had a prior drug-related felony con28 Nos. 07-3964, 07-4060 & 08-1141 viction. On December 3, the district court sentenced him to 380 months in prison after finding that he was responsible for fifteen kilograms or more of methamphetamine and enhancing his sentence for possessing a firearm and for obstructing justice. Garcia filed his notice of appeal on December 10. Garcia’s counsel, unable to discern a non-frivolous basis for appeal, moved to withdraw. Counsel supports his motion with a thorough brief filed according to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Garcia did not respond to his counsel’s submission, and we therefore confine our review of the record to the potential issues raised in his counsel’s facially adequate brief. See United States v. Schuh, 289 F.3d 968, 973 (7th Cir. 2002). After reviewing the record and counsel’s well-written Anders brief, we agree that there are no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Counsel first raises the district court’s evidentiary rulings regarding two witnesses, but Garcia forfeited his challenges by failing to object at trial, see United States v. McMath, 559 F.3d 657, 667 (7th Cir. 2009), and we find no plain error in the court’s rulings. Counsel also addresses the sufficiency of the evidence to convict Garcia, but he correctly highlights more than enough evidence from which a reasonable jury could have found Garcia guilty. See Moses, 513 F.3d at 733. Counsel next calls our attention to the denial of Garcia’s requests for a new attorney. The court below held ex parte hearings to determine whether the requests should be granted, applied the proper criteria, and did not abuse its discretion in finding that new Nos. 07-3964, 07-4060 & 08-1141 29 counsel was inappropriate. See United States v. Ryals, 512 F.3d 416, 419-20 (7th Cir. 2008) (explaining the applicable standard when considering a motion for new counsel); United States v. Best, 426 F.3d 937, 947 (7th Cir. 2005) (same). Finally, counsel notes multiple issues regarding Garcia’s sentence. After reviewing each of them, we agree that the district court properly calculated the drug quantity for which Garcia was held responsible and did not err by imposing enhancements for possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice. We agree that there are no non-frivolous issues for appeal, and we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and dismiss Garcia’s appeal.