Court Opinion

ID: 155950
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 04:26:54+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:29:39.750415
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                 United States Court of Appeals
                                                                         Tenth Circuit
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                            FEB 5 1998
                                TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                    PATRICK FISHER
                                                                              Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

             Plaintiff-Appellee,
                                                       No. 97-3145
v.                                                  (Dist. of Kansas)
                                                 (D.C. No. 96-3055-SAC)
EDGAR ARTEMIO SANCHEZ,

             Defendant-Appellant.

                          ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before BALDOCK, EBEL, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The cause is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

      *
       This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
      Edgar A. Sanchez appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255

petition. This court exercises jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2253 and

2255 and affirms. 1

      Sanchez was arrested by the Kansas Highway patrol on May 5, 1994;

approximately 106 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride were found in his

possession. A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against

Sanchez, charging him with possession with intent to distribute approximately

100 kilograms of cocaine.

      On October 21, 1994, Sanchez pled guilty to the indictment pursuant to a

plea agreement. In return for Sanchez’s plea, the United States agreed that it

would not oppose a three-level reduction in Sanchez’s base offense level for

acceptance of responsibility, take no position on an obstruction of justice

enhancement, and not oppose a three-level reduction in Sanchez’s base offense

      1
        Because Sanchez filed his § 2255 petition prior to the enactment of the
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”), Pub. L. No. 104-132,
110 Stat. 1214, the AEDPA and its certificate of appealability requirements do
not apply to this appeal. See United States v. Kunzman, 125 F.3d 1363, 1364 n.2
(10th Cir. 1997). Because petitioners like Sanchez were not obligated to obtain a
certificate of probable cause to appeal the denial of a § 2255 motion under pre-
AEDPA law, this court proceeds to the merits of Sanchez’s appeal. See United
States v. Riddick, 104 F.3d 1239, 1240 (10th Cir. 1997) (noting that under the
pre-AEDPA versions of 28 U.S.C. §§ 2253, 2255, “a § 2255 movant was not
required to obtain a certificate of appealability to appeal an adverse decision by
the district court”), overruled in part on other grounds, Kunzman, 125 F.3d at
1364 n.2.

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level for his minor role in the conspiracy. The United States further agreed to

consider filing a motion for a downward departure based on any substantial

assistance provided by Sanchez.

      Sanchez met with representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration

and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on December 13, 1994. The meeting was

also attended by a representative of the Public Defender’s Office. During the

meeting Sanchez refused to provide specific information concerning the

individuals who recruited him and provided the cocaine. He also refused to

provide specific information concerning how, where, and when the cocaine was to

be delivered and with whom contact would be made upon delivery. The interview

concluded without Sanchez providing any useful information.

      Sanchez was sentenced on March 16, 1995. His base offense level of 36

was reduced by three points for his minor role in the offense and three points for

acceptance of responsibility. The sentencing range for this base offense level of

30 was 97 to 121 months. The district court sentenced Sanchez to the mandatory

minimum of 120 months as required by 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)

      On January 29, 1996, Sanchez filed a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct

his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. In the motion, Sanchez argued that his

counsel was constitutionally ineffective because he failed to argue that Sanchez

was entitled to a sentence reduction pursuant to the “safety valve” provisions of

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18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). He further argued that he was entitled to a two level

reduction in his base offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(4). Based on

Sanchez’s motion and an affidavit filed by Sanchez in support of his claims, the

district court appointed James Chappas to represent Sanchez and held an

evidentiary hearing.

      Shortly after the hearing had concluded, the district court issued a

Memorandum and Order denying Sanchez’s § 2255 motion. The district court

concluded that Sanchez’s trial counsel was not ineffective because Sanchez was

not entitled to a sentence reduction under the safety valve provisions of § 3553(f).

The district court found that because Sanchez failed to inform the United States

all that he knew about the offense of conviction and the relevant conduct,

including the identities and participation of others, he failed to qualify for “safety

valve” relief. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(5); United States v. Acosta-Olivas, 71 F.3d
375, 377-78 (10th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, Sanchez’s counsel was not

ineffective for failing to request relief under § 3553(f).

      As to Sanchez’s claim that he was entitled to a two-level reduction in his

base offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(4), the district court noted that

Sanchez was sentenced well before the effective date of that provision and the

provision was not listed by the United States Sentencing Commission as one that

applied retroactively. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(a), (c). Accordingly, the district

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court concluded that Sanchez could not benefit from U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(4)

unless Sanchez’s original sentence was set aside and Sanchez was resentenced.

Because the district court had already concluded that Sanchez’s counsel was not

ineffective and Sanchez’s original sentence would stand, Sanchez could not

benefit from § 2D1.1(b)(4).

       When Sanchez insisted on appealing the district court’s denial of his § 2255

motion, Sanchez’s appointed counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Counsel indicated that he was “obliged to

characterize this appeal as frivolous. Under the facts, circumstances and

applicable law, all as aforementioned and found by the district court, counsel for

the appellant is with no conceivable, good faith, argument to indicate that the

district court incorrectly applied the law to the facts in this case.” Appellant’s

Brief at 5.

       This court has reviewed de novo the Anders brief filed by Sanchez’s

counsel, the United States’ response thereto, the district court’s Memorandum and

Order, and the entire record on appeal. Based on that review, we affirm for

substantially the reasons set forth in the district court’s thorough Memorandum

and Order.

                                          -5-
     The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas

is hereby AFFIRMED. Counsel’s motion to withdraw pursuant to Anders is

GRANTED.

                                             ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                             Michael R. Murphy
                                             Circuit Judge

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