Court Opinion

ID: 2670139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-17 00:01:23.370633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:30.640979
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-40834      Document: 00512597158         Page: 1    Date Filed: 04/15/2014

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

                                    No. 13-40834
                                                                                   FILED
                                                                               April 15, 2014
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                              Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                   Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

MIGUEL ANGEL ECHEVARRIA-JIMENEZ,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 1:12-CR-962

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DENNIS, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Miguel Angel Echevarria-Jimenez (Echevarria) appeals the 57-month
sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for being unlawfully
found in the United States after deportation, having previously been convicted
of a felony. Echevarria argues that the 16-level enhancement for being found
in the United States after a felony drug trafficking offense was not warranted
because his 2008 conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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: 13-40834    Document: 00512597158      Page: 2   Date Filed: 04/15/2014

                                  No. 13-40834

substance could have been charged as a misdemeanor under federal law and,
as a result, the conviction was not a “felony” for purposes of U.S.S.G.
§ 2L1.2(b)(1).   Echevarria also argues that counsel rendered ineffective
assistance by failing to argue that the 2008 conviction was not a felony for
purposes of § 2L1.2(b)(1). He contends that the appeal waiver in his plea
agreement does not preclude him from raising an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim on direct appeal.
      The Government moves for dismissal because Echevarria’s appeal is
barred by the waiver of appeal in the plea agreement. In the alternative, the
Government requests an extension of time to file its appellate brief.
      A review of the record shows that Echevarria knowingly and voluntarily
waived his right to appeal his sentence, see United States v. Portillo, 18 F.3d
290, 292 (5th Cir. 1994), and that his arguments are barred by the appeal
waiver. Therefore, the appeal is DISMISSED. The Government’s alternative
motion to extend the time to file its brief is DENIED as moot.

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