Court Opinion

ID: 782362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-18 16:29:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:57:23.567450
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                _______________

                                      No. 11-3021
                                    _______________

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                             v.

                                 WILL H. CALLAWAY,

                                              Appellant
                                    _______________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                         For the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                     (D.C. Criminal Action No. 1-09-cr-00362-001)
                     District Judge: Honorable William W. Caldwell
                                    _______________

                       Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                    April 17, 2012
                                  _______________

                Before: SCIRICA, AMBRO and SMITH, Circuit Judges

                              (Opinion filed April 18, 2012)
                                   _______________

                                       OPINION
                                    _______________

AMBRO, Circuit Judge

       Will H. Callaway pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 1343, for which the District Court sentenced him to a split sentence that consisted of six

months’ incarceration, followed by six months’ home confinement and three years’
supervised release. Additionally, it ordered restitution of $29,299.89 and imposed a

special assessment of $100. Callaway filed a timely notice of appeal. His attorney now

moves to withdraw as counsel under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting

that all potential grounds for appeal are frivolous. Callaway has not filed a pro se brief.

We grant the motion and affirm Callaway’s sentence.

                                             I.

       Because we write solely for the parties, we recite only those facts necessary to our

decision. From November 2007 through January 2009, Callaway, a Georgia resident,

applied via internet, telephone, and facsimile for student loans through both Astrive and

the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, located in Massachusetts and

Pennsylvania, respectively. In doing so, Callaway used his child’s Social Security

number and represented that his unwitting sister was a cosigner. Some loans were

denied, but Astrive approved one loan and disbursed to Callaway $30,000.00, of which

$29,299.89 was unpaid at the time of sentencing.

       Callaway waived his right to an indictment by grand jury. Instead, the

Government issued an information charging him with one count of wire fraud in violation

of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Callaway appeared before the District Court for the Middle District

of Pennsylvania and, pursuant to a plea agreement, pled guilty to that charge.

                                             II.

       Our rules provide that “[w]here, upon review of the district court record, counsel

is persuaded that the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, counsel may file a

motion to withdraw and supporting brief pursuant to Anders v. California . . . .” 3d Cir.

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L.A.R. 109.2(a). If we concur with trial counsel’s assessment, we “will grant [the]

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

Accordingly, our inquiry “is . . . twofold: (1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled the

rule’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 his Anders brief, Callaway’s attorney identified three potential grounds for

direct appeal: (1) the District Court’s jurisdiction; (2) the validity of Callaway’s guilty

plea; and (3) the reasonableness of Callaway’s sentence. Our review of the record

confirms counsel’s assessment that there are no nonfrivolous issues for appeal.

       First, we agree that the District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231.

Pursuant to that section, federal district courts have jurisdiction over all offenses

committed against the laws of the United States. Moreover, § 1343’s jurisdictional

requirement that the wire fraud offense be committed by means of wire communication

in interstate commerce is met here.

       Second, we uphold the validity of Callaway’s guilty plea. The District Court

conducted an extensive plea colloquy complying with the standards set forth in Boykin v.

Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. At his plea

hearing, Callaway was advised of his rights and the consequences of pleading guilty.

App. 76-79. The Court reviewed the wire fraud charge, the statutory maximum penalties,

and Callaway’s waiver of his right to a grand jury indictment. App. 74-79. It also

complied with the specific colloquy requirements set out in Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 11(c), advising Callaway of the federal criminal trial rights that he waived by

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pleading guilty. Id. Nonetheless, Callaway’s attorney identified two potential issues

with the Court’s plea colloquy: the colloquy could be viewed as deficient because (1) the

Court did not explicitly discuss Mr. Callaway’s right to counsel and (2) the colloquy did

not discuss the Court’s authority to order restitution. In any event, Callaway was already

represented. Moreover, the colloquy did not discuss the Court’s authority to order

restitution, but Callaway expressly agreed to that obligation in his plea agreement.

       Finally, we agree that Callaway’s sentence is procedurally and substantively

reasonable. District courts must follow a three-step process in imposing a sentence: (1)

calculate the applicable Guidelines range; (2) formally rule on any departure motions and

explain its ruling on such motions; and (3) exercise discretion in applying any relevant

factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States v. Gunter, 462 F.3d 237, 247 (3d

Cir. 2006). The Court adopted the Government’s Presentence Investigation Report,

which calculated a Total Offense Level of 13 and a Criminal History Category of I,

resulting in a sentencing range of 12-18 months’ imprisonment. Additionally, the Court

heard Callaway’s arguments in favor of a probation sentence in light of the following §

3553(a) factors: the questionable health of various family members, including his son;

Callaway’s stable employment record; and his lack of criminal history. App. 89-91. The

Court disagreed that a probation-only sentence was an adequate deterrent given the

seriousness of the crime. Instead, it imposed a split sentence, replacing half of the

imprisonment term with home confinement. App. 94; U.S.S.G. § 5C1.1(d)(2). Because

the Court followed proper sentencing procedures and sentenced Callaway to a term of

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imprisonment half of the low end of his Guidelines range, we cannot say that Callaway’s

split sentence is either procedurally or substantively unreasonable.

                                     * * * * *

       Callaway’s counsel adequately fulfilled the requirements of Anders. Because our

independent review of the record fails to reveal any nonfrivolous grounds for direct

appeal, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm Callaway’s sentence.

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