Court Opinion

ID: 2708431
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-05 14:59:13.993446+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:56.715758
License: Public Domain

NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
                          To be cited only in accordance with
                                   Fed. R. App. P. 32.1

                 United States Court of Appeals
                                  For the Seventh Circuit
                                  Chicago, Illinois 60604

                                  Submitted June 24, 2014
                                   Decided July 15, 2014

                                           Before

                             RICHARD D. CUDAHY, Circuit Judge

                             DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge

                             DAVID F. HAMILTON, Circuit Judge

No. 13-3515

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA                          Appeal from the United States District
     Plaintiff-Appellee,                          Court for the Northern District of Illinois,
                                                  Eastern Division.
       v.
                                                  No. 1:08 CR 223 1
HAROLD PERKINS,
    Defendant-Appellant.                          Virginia M. Kendall,
                                                  Judge.

                                         ORDER

       Harold Perkins led a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing crack
cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana in the Chicago area. As part of the operation,
Perkins provided several individuals with narcotics and directed the distribution of the
drugs. Law enforcement conducted a series of controlled purchases of crack and
powder cocaine from Perkins and his distributors from February 2006 to September
2006. Perkins stipulated that he was responsible for the distribution of 487.5 grams of
crack cocaine and 1,263 grams of powder cocaine. Perkins also possessed three firearms
for protection and to facilitate his trafficking operation.
No. 13-3515                                                                            Page 2

       Perkins was indicted on several counts related to this criminal enterprise, and
eventually entered into a written plea agreement pursuant to which he pleaded guilty
to one count of intentionally distributing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, in violation
of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). As part of the plea agreement the
United States agreed to dismiss the original indictment and to not seek an increased
sentence for Perkins’ prior conviction for a felony drug trafficking offense pursuant to
21 U.S.C. § 851. Also as part of the plea agreement Perkins waived his appellate rights;
however, the waiver did not extend to seeking a sentence reduction based upon an
applicable change in the law made retroactive by the Supreme Court.

       At the original sentencing hearing, the district court found Perkins’ base offense
level was 34, adding together an upwards adjustment for his leadership role and a
downward adjustment for his acceptance of responsibility, as well as an additional
increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(b)(1) because Perkins was a career criminal and
the statutory maximum term was life. An offense level of 34 carries a suggested
sentence of 262-347 months under the advisory guidelines, and the district court
imposed a sentence of 212 months, to be served consecutively with the mandatory five
years on the §924(c) count. In imposing the below guidelines sentence, the district court
specifically found that Perkins was a career offender, but departed from the guidelines
because of Perkins’ age.

       Perkins appealed his original sentence, challenging only whether the Fair
Sentencing Act of 2010 should have applied to his case. We vacated Perkins’ sentence
and remanded for resentencing in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dorsey v.
United States, 132 S. Ct. 2321 (2012). Prior to resentencing the United States Probation
Office prepared a Supplemental Report to the PSR. It concluded that the offense levels
for drug quantity and leadership remained the same. However, the career offender
offense level changed because Perkins’ statutory maximum term became 40 years rather
than life; thus Perkins’ offense level dropped from 37 to 34 (34 to 31 when considering
acceptance of responsibility), because Perkins’ statutory maximum became 40 years
rather than life.

       Perkins again appeals his sentence. His lawyer believes that this appeal is
frivolous and seeks to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).
No. 13-3515                                                                           Page 3

Perkins did not respond to our invitation to comment on counsel’s motion. See CIR. R.
51(b). We limit our review to the potential issues discussed in counsel’s facially
adequate submission. See United States v. Schuh, 289 F.3d 968, 973–74 (7th Cir. 2002).

       Counsel first considers whether Perkins could challenge his conviction,
concluding that he cannot because he did not move to withdraw his guilty plea in the
district court nor did he challenge his guilty plea in his original appeal. We agree with
counsel’s conclusion. Any existing issue not raised on direct appeal is waived on
remand. United States v. Parker, 101 F.3d 527, 528 (7th Cir. 1996).

       Counsel also considers whether the waiver contained in the plea agreement is
relevant to this appeal, and therefore deprives Perkins of any non-frivolous argument
on which to base his appeal. First we note that the by agreeing to the waiver, Perkins
must forgo any challenge to the validity of the plea agreement, which includes the
waiver itself. Thus, Perkins cannot challenge the voluntariness or any other aspect of his
plea. Additionally, the 212 month sentence given to him was within the statutory
maximum and was not impermissibly imposed on the basis of any constitutionally
factor. Nor, does Perkins allege that his sentence has been affected by any change in law
made retroactive by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the waiver is operative and Perkins
is deprived of any non-frivolous argument to support his appeal.

       Counsel finally considers Perkins potential arguments even if the waiver did not
prevent his appeal. Initially we note that the sentence was not in violation of law; it was
well beneath the statutory maximum, and the special assessment was required
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(A). Similarly any argument regarding the
unreasonableness of the sentence would be frivolous. Perkins would have to show that
when measured against the § 3553(a) factors, the sentence was clearly unreasonable.
United States v. Johnson, 534 F.3d 690, 696 (7th Cir. 2008). However, sentencing judges
are afforded a great deal of discretion in imposing sentences, and the district court here
had the opportunity to hear and respond to each of Perkins’ arguments related to the §
3553(a) factors. See United States v. Ramirez-Martinez, 683 F.3d 771, 777 (7th Cir. 2012).
We see no reason to disturb the district court’s discretion here.

       Perkins would have an equally difficult time arguing that the district court
committed any procedural error in arriving at the 212 month sentence. First, the district
No. 13-3515                                                                             Page 4

court adequately calculated the sentence. Perkins’ offense level, taking into account all
relevant considerations including acceptance of responsibility, could be no lower than
31, and every career offender’s criminal history category is VI. Based on those
calculations, Perkins faced a sentencing range of no lower than 188-235 months.
Nothing suggests the district court committed plain error in calculating Perkins’
sentence. Second, the district court did not treat the guidelines as mandatory, as
evidenced by the sentence on Count 1 which was 36 months below the low end of the
188-235 month guideline range. Third, the district court adequately considered the §
3553(a) factors as is required. United States v. Harris, 718 F.3d 698, 705 (7th Cir. 2013).
The district court thoroughly discussed why it felt the career offender sentence was
necessary, including the seriousness of the offense, Perkins’ history and characteristics,
the need for retribution, and the impact of Perkins’ age. Any argument that the district
court inadequately considered the §3553(a) factors would be frivolous.

       Finally, the district court adequately explained Perkins’ sentence. See United
States v. Carter, 538 F.3d 784, 789 (7th Cir. 2008)(requiring explanation that allows
meaningful appellate review). Perkins’ main argument on appeal is that his sentence
after resentencing should have been reduced by the same number of months as at his
original sentencing, rather than being reduced by the same percentage. The district
court disagreed, and explained that reduction by percentage was more consistent with
the original sentencing. Furthermore, the court did adequately explain the basis for
Perkins’ sentence, which is especially evident in the court’s discussion of the §3553(a)
factors.

       For these reasons, counsel correctly concludes that Perkins’ appellate challenge
to his conviction, plea, or sentence would be frivolous. Accordingly, we GRANT
counsel’s motion to withdraw, and DISMISS the appeal.