Court Opinion

ID: 615783
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-10-21 17:28:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:56.875566
License: Public Domain

Case: 10-11162     Document: 00511640134         Page: 1     Date Filed: 10/21/2011

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                         October 21, 2011
                                     No. 10-11162
                                  Conference Calendar                      Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

HOSAM MAHER HUSEIN SMADI,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 3:09-CR-294-1

Before BENAVIDES, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        The Federal Public Defender appointed to represent Hosam Maher Husein
Smadi has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d
229 (5th Cir. 2011). Smadi has filed a response. To the extent that Smadi
contends that his guilty plea was due to “scare tactics” or made under coercion
and duress, the record is insufficiently developed to permit consideration of such
a claim. See United States v. Corbett, 742 F.2d 173, 176-78 (5th Cir. 1984).

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
   Case: 10-11162    Document: 00511640134      Page: 2   Date Filed: 10/21/2011

                                  No. 10-11162

Smadi may raise such a claim in a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion. See id. at 178 n.11.
Likewise, the record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration at this
time of Smadi’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel; such a claim generally
“cannot be resolved on direct appeal when the claim has not been raised before
the district court since no opportunity existed to develop the record on the merits
of the allegations.” United States v. Cantwell, 470 F.3d 1087, 1091 (5th Cir.
2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
      We have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant portions of the record
reflected therein, as well as Smadi’s response.       We concur with counsel’s
assessment that the appeal presents no nonfrivolous issue for appellate review.
Accordingly, the motion for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused
from further responsibilities herein, Smadi’s motion for appointment of new
counsel is DENIED, and the APPEAL IS DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.

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