Court Opinion

ID: 9908766
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-11 19:00:33.914725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:30.156357
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-10459         Document: 00516995984             Page: 1      Date Filed: 12/11/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit                                          United States Court of Appeals
                                      ____________                                         Fifth Circuit

                                                                                         FILED
                                       No. 23-10459                              December 11, 2023
                                     Summary Calendar
                                                                                      Lyle W. Cayce
                                     ____________                                          Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Ayoob Wali,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Northern District of Texas
                               USDC No. 4:22-CR-207-1
                      ______________________________

   Before Barksdale, Engelhardt, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Ayoob Wali pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to
   unlawful possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o)
   (prohibiting possession), 924(a)(2) (limiting imprisonment to “not more
   than 10 years”). His written plea agreement included an appeal waiver, with
   exceptions not at issue in this instance.

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-10459       Document: 00516995984          Page: 2    Date Filed: 12/11/2023

                                     No. 23-10459

            Wali challenges his within-Guidelines 71-months’ imprisonment
   sentence. He contends the district court violated the Second Amendment by
   applying an enhanced base offense level of 20 pursuant to its finding he was
   a “prohibited person” under Sentencing Guideline § 2K2.1(a)(4)(B)
   (outlining base offense level for possession of firearms). Wali also requests
   our court recognize and apply a miscarriage-of-justice exception to the
   otherwise valid appeal waiver.
            The Government seeks to enforce the waiver. We turn first to that
   issue.
            Whether an appeal waiver bars an appeal is a question our court
   reviews de novo. E.g., United States v. Keele, 755 F.3d 752, 754 (5th Cir. 2014).
   The question turns on “a two-step inquiry: (1) whether the waiver was
   knowing and voluntary and (2) whether the waiver applies to the
   circumstances at hand, based on the plain language of the agreement”.
   United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542, 544 (5th Cir. 2005).
            Wali does not dispute he knowingly and voluntarily waived his right
   to appeal his conviction and sentence; accordingly, the appeal waiver is valid
   and enforceable. See United States v. McKinney, 406 F.3d 744, 746 (5th Cir.
   2005) (“Because [defendant] indicated that he had read and understood the
   plea agreement, which includes an explicit, unambiguous waiver of appeal,
   the waiver was both knowing and voluntary.”). He also does not contest that,
   by its terms, the waiver applies to his claim that Guideline § 2K2.1(a)(b)(4)
   was applied in error.
            Instead, as noted supra, he requests we recognize and apply a
   miscarriage-of-justice exception to the waiver. Our court has “declined
   explicitly either to adopt or to reject” this exception. United States v. Barnes,
   953 F.3d 383, 389 (5th Cir. 2020). In any event, even if this exception were

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Case: 23-10459      Document: 00516995984          Page: 3   Date Filed: 12/11/2023

                                    No. 23-10459

   to apply, Wali has not shown a miscarriage of justice. See, e.g., United States
   v. Portillo-Palencia, 837 F. App’x 286, 289–91 (5th Cir. 2020).
          DISMISSED.

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