Court Opinion

ID: 9893409
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-26 21:00:50.024646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:21.743440
License: Public Domain

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                                             UNPUBLISHED

                               UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                   FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                               No. 22-4295

        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                             Plaintiff - Appellee,

                      v.

        COREY RAMON BEST,

                             Defendant - Appellant.

        Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at
        Raleigh. James C. Dever III, District Judge. (5:20-cr-00413-D-1)

        Submitted: October 17, 2023                                   Decided: October 25, 2023

        Before WYNN and THACKER, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge.

        Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

        ON BRIEF: James M. Ayers, II, AYERS & HAIDT, PA, New Bern, North Carolina, for
        Appellant. David A. Bragdon, Assistant United States Attorney, Kristine L. Fritz,
        Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY,
        Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.

        Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
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        PER CURIAM:

               Corey Ramon Best seeks to appeal his sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy

        to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in

        violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of

        cocaine, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). On appeal, Best’s attorney

        has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), raising a sentencing issue

        but concluding there are no meritorious grounds for appeal. The Government has moved

        to dismiss the appeal as barred by Best’s appeal waiver. Best was notified of his right to

        file a pro se supplemental brief but has not done so. We dismiss the appeal.

               “When the government seeks to enforce an appeal waiver and has not breached the

        plea agreement, we will enforce the waiver if it is valid and if the issue being appealed falls

        within the scope of the waiver.” United States v. Boutcher, 998 F.3d 603, 608 (4th Cir.

        2021) (internal quotation marks omitted). “A ‘valid’ appeal waiver is one entered by the

        defendant knowingly and intelligently, a determination that we make by considering the

        totality of the circumstances.” Id. “When a district court questions a defendant during a

        Rule 11 hearing regarding an appeal waiver and the record shows that the defendant

        understood the import of his concessions, we generally will hold that the waiver is valid.”

        Id. We review this issue de novo. Id.

               “We have consistently held that appellate waivers in valid plea agreements are

        enforceable.” United States v. Soloff, 993 F.3d 240, 243 (4th Cir. 2021). “Plea agreements

        are grounded in contract law, and as with any contract, each party is entitled to receive the

        benefit of his bargain.” United States v. Edgell, 914 F.3d 281, 287 (4th Cir. 2019) (internal

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        quotation marks omitted). But, there is “a ‘narrow class of claims that we have allowed a

        defendant to raise on direct appeal despite a general waiver of appellate rights.’” United

        States v. Moran, 70 F.4th 797, 802 n.3 (4th Cir. 2023). “An appeal waiver does not preclude

        a defendant from challenging a sentence ‘based on a constitutionally impermissible factor’

        or ‘a sentence imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute.’” United

        States v. Cornette, 932 F.3d 204, 209 (4th Cir. 2019). Moreover, we will not enforce an

        appeal waiver if doing so “would result in a ‘miscarriage of justice.’” United States v.

        McKinney, 60 F.4th 188, 192 (4th Cir. 2023). “[T]o establish such a miscarriage of justice,

        a defendant need only make ‘a cognizable claim of actual innocence.’” Id.

               Upon our review of the record, we conclude that Best knowingly and voluntarily

        waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence, and the issue raised on appeal falls

        within the scope of the waiver. Moreover, we have reviewed the record for any potentially

        meritorious issues that might fall outside the waiver and have found none. In response to

        the Government’s motion, Best does not dispute that his appeal waiver is valid, but he

        argues that enforcing it would constitute a miscarriage of justice. However, he does not

        assert a cognizable claim of actual innocence, and we find this argument without merit.

               Accordingly, we grant the Government’s motion to dismiss the appeal. This court

        requires that counsel inform Best, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of

        the United States for further review. If Best 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 Best.     We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal

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        contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would

        not aid the decisional process.

                                                                                    DISMISSED

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