Court Opinion

ID: 9369191
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-08 01:00:18.40269+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:13.554347
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-60351        Document: 00516638137             Page: 1      Date Filed: 02/07/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________                               FILED
                                                                          February 7, 2023
                                      No. 22-60351
                                    Summary Calendar                       Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk
                                    ____________

   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Elbert Silas,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Southern District of Mississippi
                               USDC No. 3:19-CR-18-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Higginbotham, Graves, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         Elbert Silas appeals the within-guidelines sentence imposed on his
   guilty-plea conviction of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
   with intent to distribute.         He contends the sentence is procedurally
   unreasonable because there was insufficient evidence to support the district
   court’s application of a two-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G.

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-60351      Document: 00516638137          Page: 2   Date Filed: 02/07/2023

                                    No. 22-60351

   § 2D1.1(b)(5).   Seeking to enforce the appeal waiver in Silas’s plea
   agreement, the Government moves to dismiss the appeal or, in the
   alternative, for summary affirmance.
          Whether an appeal waiver bars an appeal is a question this court
   reviews de novo. United States v. Keele, 755 F.3d 752, 754 (5th Cir. 2014).
   The question turns on “a two-step inquiry: (1) whether the waiver was
   knowing and voluntary and (2) whether the waiver applies to the
   circumstances at hand, based on the plain language of the agreement.”
   United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542, 544 (5th Cir. 2005). The record shows
   that both those conditions are met here. The waiver states that Silas is giving
   up the right to appeal his sentence on any ground, including but not limited
   to those set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742. Silas raised no questions about the
   waiver and affirmed repeatedly that he understood it. He will accordingly be
   held to the bargain to which he agreed. As there is no indication the parties
   intended standard language in the waiver to bear a non-standard meaning,
   Silas’s efforts to urge such a meaning are unavailing. See Bond, 414 F.3d at
   545-56.
          Accordingly, the Government’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED,
   the Government’s alternative motion for summary affirmance is DENIED,
   and the appeal is DISMISSED.

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