Court Opinion

ID: 1034546
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-22 21:03:42.11519+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:05.290608
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

            UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                 FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                      _____________

                         No. 12-3235
                        _____________

               UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                               v.

               SANTIAGO SALINAS-CORTEZ,

                          Appellant
                       ______________

   APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
     FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
             (D.C. Crim. No. 2-06-cr-00115-003)
          District Judge: Honorable Juan R. Sanchez
                       ______________

           Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                         July 8, 2013
                       ______________

Before: GREENAWAY, JR., SLOVITER, and BARRY, Circuit Judges.

                 (Opinion Filed: July 19, 2013)
                       ______________

                          OPINION
                       ______________
GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Judge.

       Santiago Salinas-Cortez (“Salinas-Cortez”) appeals the District Court‟s judgment

sentencing him to 144 months‟ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. His

counsel filed a brief, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that

no nonfrivolous issues exist for appeal and seeking to withdraw as counsel. For the

reasons below, we will grant counsel‟s motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment of

the District Court.

                                     I. Background

       We write primarily for the benefit of the parties and recount only the facts

essential to our discussion. In February 2006, Salinas-Cortez and three co-defendants

were arrested in connection with a large-scale cocaine conspiracy. In short order,

Salinas-Cortez pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms

or more of cocaine and possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to

distribute. The District Court sentenced Salinas-Cortez to 156 months‟ imprisonment,

five years of supervised release, a fine of $500, and a special assessment of $200.

       Salinas-Cortez appealed on the ground that the District Court failed to consider his

argument that he should receive a two-level reduction for minor role pursuant to U.S.S.G.

§ 3B1.2. This Court affirmed the conviction, but vacated the sentence and remanded for

the District Court to consider whether Salinas-Cortez was a “minor” participant. At the

resentencing hearing, the District Court rejected Salinas-Cortez‟s request for a reduction

for minor role and also rejected defense counsel‟s argument that the court should

consider Salinas-Cortez‟s post-sentencing rehabilitation. The District Court reimposed

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the original terms of the sentence and Salinas-Cortez again appealed.

         This Court vacated Salinas-Cortez‟s sentence again. We directed the District

Court to consider whether Salinas-Cortez‟s post-sentencing rehabilitation supports a

downward variance, based on the Supreme Court‟s holding in Pepper v. United States,

131 S. Ct. 1229 (2011), which was decided one week after Salinas-Cortez had been

resentenced. At the second resentencing hearing, the District Court considered Salinas-

Cortez‟s post-sentencing rehabilitation, and reduced his sentence from 156 months to 144

months‟ imprisonment. The District Court reimposed the five years of supervised

release, the $500 fine, and $200 special assessment. Salinas-Cortez now appeals yet

again.

                                      II. Jurisdiction

         The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. This Court has

jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                 III. Standard of Review

         “In Anders v. California, the Supreme Court explained the general duties of a

lawyer representing an indigent criminal defendant on appeal when the lawyer seeks

leave to withdraw from continued representation on the grounds that there are no

nonfrivolous issues to appeal.” United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 779 (3d Cir.

2000) (citation omitted). The attorney must always “support his client‟s appeal to the

best of his ability.” Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. If, however, “counsel finds his case to be

wholly frivolous, after a conscientious examination of it, he should so advise the court

and request permission to withdraw.” Id.

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       To withdraw, counsel must “satisfy the court that he or she has thoroughly scoured

the record in search of appealable issues,” and “explain why the issues are frivolous.”

Marvin, 211 F.3d at 780. Hence, this Court‟s inquiry when considering a lawyer‟s

Anders brief is two-fold; we must determine: “(1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled

[Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2‟s] requirements; and (2) whether an

independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v.

Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). In accordance with 3d Cir. L.A.R. Rule 109.2,

if an appeal is judged to be wholly frivolous, this Court must “grant trial counsel‟s

Anders motion, and dispose of the appeal without appointing new counsel.” Id. (quoting

3d Cir. L.A.R. Rule 109.2(a) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

                                         IV. Analysis

       Counsel thoroughly reviewed the record and identified three possible issues for

appeal, none of which is nonfrivolous.1 First, counsel proffers that Salinas-Cortez might

challenge the procedural reasonableness of the second sentencing rehearing. Second,

counsel suggests that Salinas-Cortez may dispute the substantive reasonableness of the

sentence. Finally, counsel points out that Salinas-Cortez might make a claim based on

ineffective assistance of counsel.2 Our review of the record discloses no other possible

issues for appeal.

1
 The government agrees with counsel that no nonfrivolous issues exist and Salinas-
Cortez has not filed a pro se brief.
2
  Salinas-Cortez made oral representations to appellate counsel indicating that he wished
to bring an ineffective assistance of counsel claim against his sentencing counsel. Since
appellate counsel and sentencing counsel are both employed by the Federal Community
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                     A. Procedural Reasonableness of the Sentence

       This Court reviews the procedural reasonableness of a sentencing court under an

abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Wise, 515 F.3d 207 (3d Cir. 2008). In

order to be procedurally reasonable, a sentencing court must follow a three-step process

set forth in Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38 (2007). United States v. Wright, 642 F.3d

148, 152 (3d Cir. 2011). First, the court must begin by correctly determining the

applicable guideline range. Second, the court must determine whether to adjust the

guidelines range. Third, the court must consider all the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a) as a whole, including whether a variance— a sentence outside the applicable

guideline range— is warranted.

       The District Court conformed to the relevant provisions of Federal Rule of

Criminal Procedure 32(i) and 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c) and followed the Gall three-step

process. The second sentencing rehearing focused on step three of the Gall three-step

process since the case was remanded for the sole purpose of considering Salinas-Cortez‟s

post-sentencing rehabilitation as grounds for a downward variance. On the narrow issue

of Salinas-Cortez‟s post-sentencing rehabilitation, the District Court considered an

updated summary from the probation department, and educational transcripts and

progress reports from incarceration facilities.

Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, appellate counsel foresaw a
conflict of interest and sought to withdraw. On January 4, 2013, this Court denied
appellate counsel‟s motion to withdraw, noting that ineffective assistance of counsel
claims are generally not reviewable on direct appeal.

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       Based upon evidence of Salinas-Cortez‟s post-sentencing rehabilitation, the

District Court granted a downward variance, reducing Salinas-Cortez‟s sentence from

156 months to 144 months‟ imprisonment. The District Court considered objections and

arguments of counsel and afforded Salinas-Cortez the opportunity to allocute. The

District Court stated its reasons for the particular sentence imposed and informed Salinas-

Cortez of his appellate rights. In light of this evidence and the narrow scope under which

the case was remanded, we find that the District Court committed no appealable

procedural errors. Therefore, appeal of the procedural reasonableness of Salinas-Cortez‟s

sentence presents no nonfrivolous issues.

                    B. Substantive Reasonableness of the Sentence

       This Court also reviews the substantive reasonableness of a sentencing court under

an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Young, 634 F.3d 233, 237 (3d Cir. 2011)

(quoting United States v. Doe, 617 F.3d 766, 769 (3d Cir. 2010)). In reviewing the

substantive reasonableness of a sentence, we look to “whether the final sentence,

wherever it may lie within the permissible statutory range, was premised upon

appropriate and judicious consideration of the relevant factors.” Id.

       In this case, the correct procedure was employed and a reasonable conclusion

reached given the evidence presented. See Young, 634 F.3d at 237 (“Absent procedural

error, we will affirm the sentencing court „unless no reasonable sentencing court would

have imposed the same sentence on that particular defendant for the reasons the district

court provided.‟” (quoting Doe, 617 F.3d at 770 )). Given that the sentence of 144

months‟ imprisonment falls below the Sentencing Guidelines Range of 151 to 188

                                             6
months‟ imprisonment, a challenge to the length of the imprisonment would fail under

this deferential standard.

       A challenge to the imposition of five years‟ supervised release would also fail.

The term of five years‟ supervision is mandatory. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1). The conditions

of supervised release were also reasonable. A sentencing court is given wide discretion

in imposing a term of supervised release. Nonetheless, that discretion is limited by the

parameters set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3583. The terms and conditions of supervised release

must be reasonable and related to the instant offense or to something in the defendant‟s

history. See 18 U.S.C. § 3583(a) and (d); see also United States v. Miller, 594 F.3d 172,

183 (3d Cir. 2010). In this case, the terms and conditions of the supervised release easily

satisfy this test and are sufficiently tailored to Salinas-Cortez‟s offense and history.

       Finally, a challenge to the imposition of the financial assessments would fail. The

District Court reimposed the fine and special assessment but indicated in the judgment

and commitment that Salinas-Cortez had already satisfied those obligations. The

statutory maximum for each of Salinas-Cortez‟s offenses is $4,000,000, for a total of

$8,000,000. Salinas-Cortez was fined $500. The special assessment fee of $100 per

count is mandated by statute. 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(A). As a result, arguments

regarding the substantive reasonableness of the financial components of the sentence

present no nonfrivolous issues.

                             C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

       As a general rule, ineffective assistance of counsel claims cannot be brought on

direct appeal. United States v. Thornton, 327 F.3d 268 (3d Cir. 2003). Rather, such

                                               7
claims are normally raised as part of a habeas petition. Since Salinas-Cortez has already

filed one petition pursuant to § 2255, counsel expressed concern that Salinas-Cortez may

be barred from filing a second or successive petition, therefore preventing him from

bringing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. In fact, notwithstanding the bar on

second or successive habeas petitions, an inmate may file a § 2255 petition after a new

judgment is entered after a resentencing. Magwood v. Patterson, 130 S.Ct. 2788 (2010)

(holding that habeas petitioner‟s fair-warning claim could be raised in the habeas petition

challenging his death sentence that was imposed following a new sentencing hearing). If

he so chooses, Salinas-Cortez may still raise an ineffective assistance of counsel claim in

a habeas petition. Since an ineffective assistance of counsel claim is generally not

reviewable on direct appeal, this argument, as Salinas-Cortez seeks to assert, presents no

nonfrivolous issues.

                                       V. Conclusion

       We find that no nonfrivolous issues exist for consideration on appeal. We will

grant counsel‟s request to withdraw, pursuant to Anders, and affirm the judgment of the

District Court. Counsel is also relieved of any obligation to file a petition for a writ of

certiorari in the Supreme Court. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(b).

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