Court Opinion

ID: 4527126
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-20 19:00:39.723251+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:17.233616
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 19-4682

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                    Plaintiff - Appellee,

             v.

JAMES ATKINSON, a/k/a Breezi,

                    Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, at Baltimore.
Richard D. Bennett, District Judge. (1:18-cr-00205-RDB-1)

Submitted: April 16, 2020                                         Decided: April 20, 2020

Before GREGORY, Chief Judge, and WYNN and DIAZ, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Kenneth E. McPherson, KENNETH E. MCPHERSON, CHTD., Riverdale, Maryland, for
Appellant. Burden Hastings Walker, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY,
Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.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

       James Atkinson appeals his convictions and 144-month sentence imposed following

his guilty plea, pursuant to a Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(c) plea agreement, to interference

with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951(a), 924(c) (2018). On appeal, counsel for Atkinson has

filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), stating that there are no

meritorious grounds for appeal but questioning whether the district court complied with

Fed. R. Crim. P. 11. Although notified of his right to do so, Atkinson has not filed a pro

se supplemental brief. Finding no reversible error, we affirm. *

       Counsel questions whether the district court complied with Rule 11. Because

Atkinson did not move to withdraw his guilty plea, this court reviews the adequacy of the

Rule 11 proceeding for plain error. United States v. Sanya, 774 F.3d 812, 815 (4th Cir.

2014). To prevail under this standard, Atkinson “must demonstrate not only that the district

court plainly erred, but also that this error affected his substantial rights.” Id. at 816. A

defendant who pleads guilty establishes that an error affected his substantial rights by

demonstrating a reasonable probability that he would not have pleaded guilty but for the

error. United States v. Davila, 569 U.S. 597, 608 (2013).

*
  Because the Government failed to respond to the Anders brief, it has not invoked the
waiver-of-appellate-rights provision in the plea agreement, permitting us to conduct our
review pursuant to Anders. See United States v. Poindexter, 492 F.3d 263, 271 (4th Cir.
2007). Nor has the Government moved to dismiss the appeal as untimely, and we conclude
that sua sponte dismissal is not warranted. See United States v. Oliver, 878 F.3d 120, 129
(4th Cir. 2017).

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       Before accepting a guilty plea, the district court must conduct a plea colloquy in

which it informs the defendant of, and determines he understands, the rights he is

relinquishing by pleading guilty, the charges to which he is pleading, and the maximum

and mandatory minimum penalties he faces. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1); United States v.

DeFusco, 949 F.3d 114, 116 (4th Cir. 1991). The court also must ensure that the plea was

voluntary and not the result of threats, force, or promises not contained in the plea

agreement, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(2), and “that there is a factual basis for the plea,” Fed.

R. Crim. P. 11(b)(3).

       We have reviewed the transcript of Atkinson’s guilty plea hearing and conclude that

the district court substantially complied with Rule 11. Although the district court neglected

to inform Atkinson of his right to present evidence at trial, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(E),

and of the potential immigration consequences of pleading guilty, Fed. R. Crim. P.

11(b)(1)(O), these minor omissions did not affect his substantial rights. Moreover, the

district court ensured that Atkinson entered his plea knowingly and voluntarily and that a

factual basis supported the plea. See DeFusco, 949 F.2d at 116, 119-20 (explaining Rule

11 requirements).

       In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire record in this case and have

found no meritorious grounds for appeal. We therefore affirm the district court’s judgment.

This court requires that counsel inform Atkinson, in writing, of the right to petition the

Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Atkinson requests that a petition

be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may

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move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel’s motion must state

that a copy thereof was served on Atkinson.

      We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are

adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the

decisional process.

                                                                            AFFIRMED

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