Court Opinion

ID: 9826958
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 17:00:59.677637+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:42:20.404434
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 22-14226    Document: 25-1     Date Filed: 09/01/2023   Page: 1 of 3

                                                  [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                   In the
                United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                          ____________________

                                No. 22-14226
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                          ____________________

       UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                      Plaintiﬀ-Appellee,
       versus
       KEO IBUA MIKE,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant.

                          ____________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Middle District of Florida
                   D.C. Docket No. 5:21-cr-00041-JA-PRL-1
                          ____________________
USCA11 Case: 22-14226     Document: 25-1      Date Filed: 09/01/2023    Page: 2 of 3

       2                      Opinion of the Court                22-14226

       Before ROSENBAUM, JILL PRYOR, and GRANT, Circuit Judges.
       PER CURIAM:
              Appellant Keo Mike wishes to appeal his 96-month sentence
       despite having knowingly and voluntarily entered into a plea
       agreement that bars him from doing so. Because the plea
       agreement controls, we grant the government’s motion to dismiss
       Mike’s appeal.
               When a defendant appeals his sentence despite an appeal
       waiver, the government may file a motion to dismiss the appeal.
       United States v. Boyd, 975 F.3d 1185, 1190 (11th Cir. 2020). That
       motion will be granted so long as the appeal waiver
       unambiguously bars the appeal and the defendant agreed to waive
       his right to appeal knowingly and voluntarily. Id. Knowing and
       voluntary waiver is satisfied where a district court “specifically
       discussed the sentence appeal waiver with the defendant.” United
       States v. Bushert, 997 F.2d 1343, 1351 (11th Cir. 1993).
               Mike’s appeal is barred by the plea agreement. Mike pleaded
       guilty to knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and
       was accordingly sentenced to 96 months in prison. Mike’s plea
       agreement clearly states that a defendant agrees to waive the right
       of appeal except in four circumstances: if the sentence exceeds the
       applicable guidelines range, if the sentence exceeds the statutory
       maximum penalty, if the sentence violates the Eighth Amendment,
       or if the government appeals. Mike does not appeal his sentence
       under any of these exceptions; rather, he appeals solely on the basis
USCA11 Case: 22-14226    Document: 25-1     Date Filed: 09/01/2023   Page: 3 of 3

       22-14226             Opinion of the Court                      3

       that his sentence is substantively unreasonable because the
       magistrate judge declined to grant a downward departure. Mike
       also does not contend that he unknowingly or involuntarily waived
       his right to appeal; rather, the record shows the opposite as the
       magistrate judge specifically questioned Mike about the waiver
       during his appeal. See Bushert, 997 F.2d at 1351.
                                *     *      *
            Because the plea agreement is enforceable and
       unambiguously bars Mike’s appeal, we GRANT the government’s
       motion and DISMISS Mike’s appeal.

             APPEAL DISMISSED.