Court Opinion

ID: 2747776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-04 06:00:56.206838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:15:36.609270
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-51190      Document: 00512823898         Page: 1    Date Filed: 11/03/2014

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                    No. 13-51190
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                         United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                                FILED
                                                                         November 3, 2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                                           Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk
                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ROGELIO MACEDO,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 1:13-CR-164-5

Before REAVLEY, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       The attorney appointed to represent Rogelio Macedo has moved for leave
to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386
U.S. 738 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 2011).
Macedo has filed a response. We have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant
portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Macedo’s response.

       * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH
CIR. R. 47.5.4.
      Case: 13-51190   Document: 00512823898     Page: 2   Date Filed: 11/03/2014

                                  No. 13-51190

       The thrust of Macedo’s response is that the Government breached the
plea agreement by “support[ing] information inconsistent with the plea
agreement.” According to Macedo, he
       entered into an agreement which stipulated to a particular set of
       facts that stated that Macedo was engaged in a conspiracy. And
       that [he] was involved in a large methamphetamine organization.
       Although there       is mention of large quantities of
       methamphetamines the factual basis only reveals that two people
       drove cars containing five kilograms of methamphetamines.
Specifically, Macedo avers that the Government breached the terms of
the agreement “when it introduced evidence through the presentence
report that attributed a larger amount of methamphetamine contrary to
that stipulated in the plea agreement.” In this regard, he contends that
the    plea   agreement    only    stipulated    to   10   kilograms     of
methamphetamine, whereas the PSR recommended that 11,670.82
grams of methamphetamine mixture could be attributed to him, in
addition to 3,661.05 grams of methamphetamine actual.

       Macdeo’s breach argument lacks merit. As an initial matter, there
is no provision in the plea agreement stipulating that Macedo will be
sentenced based on a specified quantity of drugs. Indeed, under the
agreement, the Government explicitly reserved the right to “inform the
U.S. Probation Office and the Court of all information relevant to
determining sentence.” Moreover, there is no indication in the record
that the Government actually informed the court of additional drug
quantities.    Finally, contrary to Macedo’s contentions, the factual
stipulation in the plea agreement nowhere indicates that only 10
kilograms could be attributed to Macedo. Rather, the plea agreement
notes that Macedo was engaged in a conspiracy, in which he received and
distributed “large quantities of methamphetamines.”            While the

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    Case: 13-51190   Document: 00512823898    Page: 3   Date Filed: 11/03/2014

                               No. 13-51190

agreement does contain a factual stipulation that Macedo was present at
a scene “where cars containing 5 kilograms of methamphetamine” were
being delivered, the agreement nowhere indicates that this was the
exclusive episode involving Macedo.

     Following our review of counsel’s brief, Macedo’s response, and the
record, we concur with counsel’s assessment that the appeal presents no
nonfrivolous issue for appellate review. Accordingly, counsel’s motion
for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, and counsel is excused from further
responsibilities herein. Macedo’s motion for the appointment of new
counsel is DENIED. See United States v. Wagner, 158 F.3d 901, 902-03
(5th Cir. 1998). The APPEAL IS DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.

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