Court Opinion

ID: 1026400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-05 07:05:59.245596+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:09:09.091200
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                  UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                      FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 08-4391

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                Plaintiff - Appellee,

          v.

JOYCE KAY GODWIN, a/k/a Joyce Kay Atkins, a/k/a Brenda Kay
Adkins, a/k/a Joyce Ann Lowrance, a/k/a Joyce Ann Cox,

                Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western
District of North Carolina, at Asheville.  Lacy H. Thornburg,
District Judge. (1:05-cr-00211-LHT-1)

Submitted:   June 25, 2008                 Decided:   August 14, 2008

Before MICHAEL and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior
Circuit Judge.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Carol Ann Bauer, Morganton, North Carolina, for Appellant. Amy E.
Ray, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Asheville, North
Carolina, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

            Joyce Kay Godwin appeals her sentence imposed after we

vacated her sentence and remanded to the district court.               Her

counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.

738 (1967), asserting there are no meritorious issues for appeal,

but raising for the court’s consideration whether the district

court abused its discretion by imposing consecutive sentences on

the aggravated identity theft convictions, Counts Eight and Nine.

Counsel also contends Godwin believes some of the prior convictions

attributed to her were actually committed by her sister.             Godwin

was notified of the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental

brief, but declined to do so.       The Government did not file a brief.

Finding no meritorious issues, we affirm.

            Godwin was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit

offenses against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371

(2000), two counts of uttering counterfeit and forged securities

and aiding and abetting such conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 2, 513 (2000), two counts of aggravated identity theft and

aiding and abetting such conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, 18

U.S.C.A. §§ 2, 1028A(a)(1) (West Supp. 2008), and two counts of

bank fraud and aiding and abetting such fraud, in violation of 18

U.S.C. §§ 2, 1344 (2000).     On appeal, we found the district court

plainly erred by imposing consecutive twenty-four month sentences

for   the   aggravated   identity    theft   convictions   without    first

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considering the commentary under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual

§ 5G1.2, cmt. n.2(B) (2005).    We also found there was plain error

because Godwin did not get the opportunity to allocute prior to

sentencing.   While we affirmed the convictions, we vacated the

sentence and remanded to the district court for resentencing.

United States v. Godwin, No. 06-5082, 2007 WL 2298128 (4th Cir.

Aug. 9, 2007) (unpublished).

          At resentencing, the district court carefully considered

the commentary under USSG § 5G1.2, cmt. n.2(B) prior to ordering

consecutive sentences.   We find no abuse of discretion.   The court

also gave Godwin an opportunity to allocute.     Insofar as Godwin

claims some of the convictions attributed to her were actually

committed by her sister, the claim is not properly before this

court as it could have been raised during her first appeal.

          In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record in

this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal.       We

therefore affirm Godwin’s sentence.     This court requires counsel

inform her client, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme

Court of the United States for further review.    If she requests a

petition be filed, but counsel believes such a petition would be

frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to

withdraw from representation.   Counsel’s motion must state that a

copy thereof was served on Godwin.

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          We dispense with oral argument because the facts and

legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before

the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                         AFFIRMED

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