United States v. Rose Pierce , 523 F. App'x 150 ( 2013 )


Menu:
  •                                                                   NOT PRECEDENTIAL
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
    __________
    No. 12-2752
    __________
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    v.
    ROSE PIERCE,
    Appellant
    __________
    On Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of New Jersey
    (D.C. Criminal No. 1-11-cr-00631-001)
    District Judge: Hon. Robert B. Kugler
    __________
    Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
    April 22, 2013
    Before: JORDAN, ALDISERT and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.
    (Filed: April 24, 2013)
    __________
    OPINION OF THE COURT
    __________
    ALDISERT, Circuit Judge.
    Rose Pierce appeals the judgment of the United States District Court for the
    District of New Jersey sentencing her to 42 months’ imprisonment. Pierce pleaded guilty
    to knowingly and intentionally using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of
    oxycodone, in violation of 
    21 U.S.C. § 843
    (b). Pierce’s attorney (“Counsel”) has filed a
    1
    motion to withdraw as counsel and a brief in support of that motion pursuant to Anders v.
    California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967). After reviewing Counsel’s brief, the Government’s
    brief, Pierce’s own pro se brief and the record, we conclude that there are no meritorious
    issues for this Court to resolve. Accordingly, we will grant Counsel’s motion to withdraw
    and affirm the judgment of the District Court.
    I.
    Pierce was charged with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, in
    violation of 
    21 U.S.C. § 841
    (a)(1), and conspiring to distribute oxycodone, in violation of
    
    21 U.S.C. § 846
    . Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, however, Pierce waived her
    right to be indicted by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally
    using a telephone to facilitate distribution of oxycodone, in violation of 
    21 U.S.C. § 843
    (b).
    During the plea hearing, the District Court confirmed Pierce’s mental and physical
    competence to enter into the plea and her understanding of its stipulations. The Court
    then accepted her plea. During the sentencing hearing, Counsel confirmed that Pierce had
    no corrections or additions to make to the presentence investigation report (“PSR”). The
    PSR included a table that converted the weight of oxycodone to its marijuana equivalent
    in order to obtain the appropriate base offense level.
    The Court then considered the 
    18 U.S.C. § 3553
    (a) factors, including Pierce’s age,
    physical disabilities, mental health, family circumstances and likelihood of recidivism. It
    found that Pierce was at the “center of this drug ring” and “the most important player in
    this whole drug ring.” App. 64. It sentenced Pierce to 42 months’ imprisonment, six
    months below the statutory maximum. Pierce timely appealed.1
    1
    The District Court had jurisdiction under 
    18 U.S.C. § 3231
    . We have jurisdiction under
    
    28 U.S.C. § 1291
     and 
    18 U.S.C. § 3742
    .
    2
    II.
    Under Anders v. California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967), appointed counsel may seek to
    withdraw from representing a criminal defendant on appeal if he or she concludes that
    there are no meritorious issues to appeal. When seeking to withdraw, counsel must
    submit a brief identifying anything in the record that might arguably support an appeal.
    See 
    id. at 744
    . This “Anders brief” must (1) “satisfy the [C]ourt that counsel has
    thoroughly examined the record in search of appealable issues,” United States v. Youla,
    
    241 F.3d 296
    , 300 (3d Cir. 2001); (2) identify any “issue[s] arguably supporting the
    appeal even though the appeal was wholly frivolous,” Smith v. Robbins, 
    528 U.S. 259
    ,
    285 (2000); and (3) “explain . . . why the issues are frivolous,” United States v. Marvin,
    
    211 F.3d 778
    , 780-781 (3d Cir. 2000); see also United States v. Coleman, 
    575 F.3d 316
    (3d Cir. 2009).
    This Court’s inquiry when counsel seeks to withdraw pursuant to Anders is
    twofold. Coleman, 
    575 F.3d at 319
    . First, this Court must determine whether the Anders
    brief satisfies Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a)2 by evaluating whether or not
    the brief is adequate. 
    Id.
     Second, this Court must independently review the record to
    determine whether it presents any nonfrivolous issues. 
    Id.
     If this Court is satisfied at step
    one that the Anders brief is adequate, it is proper for this Court to use the brief itself as a
    2
    Rule 109.2(a) states:
    Where, 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,
    
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967) . . . . If the panel agrees that the appeal is without
    merit, it will grant counsel’s Anders motion, and dispose of the appeal
    without appointing new counsel. If the panel finds arguable merit to the
    appeal, or that the Anders brief is inadequate to assist the court in its
    review, it will appoint substitute counsel, order supplemental briefing and
    restore the case to the calendar . . . .
    3
    guide during its review of the record. Youla, 
    241 F.3d at 301
    . Here, we are persuaded that
    Counsel thoroughly reviewed the record and that his brief adequately identifies and
    rejects the issues that might have been appealed.
    III.
    Counsel correctly points out that any challenge to Pierce’s guilty plea would be
    frivolous. Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure sets forth a number of
    elements that must be satisfied in order for a District Court to accept a plea. Our review
    of the plea hearing transcript confirms that the District Court conducted a thorough plea
    colloquy that complied with Rule 11(b)’s requirements. Additionally, we agree with
    Counsel that there is no merit to the specific argument identified in Counsel’s brief that
    Pierce was forced to lie during her plea as a result of the method used to calculate her
    offense level. Not only did Pierce not make any admission regarding marijuana, she
    expressed that she understood that the weight of oxycodone would be converted to its
    marijuana equivalent in order to obtain the appropriate base offense level.
    IV.
    We agree also with Counsel that any challenges to Pierce’s sentencing would be
    frivolous. We review all sentences for procedural and substantive reasonableness. See
    United States v. Lessner, 
    498 F.3d 185
    , 203 (3d Cir. 2007). Procedurally, a district court
    must comply with Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the three-step
    sentencing process set forth in Gall v. United States, 
    552 U.S. 38
    , 49-50 (2007).3 Upon
    our independent review of the record, we conclude that there are no nonfrivolous issues
    to appeal regarding Pierce’s sentencing proceedings.
    3
    Gall requires a district court to (1) correctly calculate the advisory Guidelines range, (2)
    rule on any departure motions, and (3) evaluate the § 3553(a) factors and explain the
    chosen sentence in a manner that allows for meaningful appellate review of the
    substantive reasonableness of the ultimate sentence.
    4
    Rule 32(f)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that parties have
    14 days after receiving the PSR to state in writing any objection they have. Pierce “had
    sufficient opportunity to review the presentence investigation report” and did not have
    additions or corrections. App. 56. Because Pierce did not timely object to the report, we
    reject as frivolous any contention that the District Court erred in relying on the PSR for
    its findings.
    Additionally, the District Court fully complied with the Supreme Court’s three-
    step sentencing process by correctly calculating the advisory Guidelines range, ruling on
    departure motions, and examining the § 3553(a) factors. The Court determined Pierce’s
    base offense level was 29 after a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility
    and an additional two-level safety-valve adjustment. It thoroughly balanced Pierce’s
    health and low likelihood of recidivism against the seriousness of her crime. It was also
    clear in stating that Pierce had already received a “tremendous break” as a result of a 48-
    month statutory maximum. Ultimately the District Court sentenced Pierce to 42 months’
    imprisonment, six months less than the statutory maximum. Accordingly, there was no
    procedural error in the District Court’s sentencing.
    We conclude also that there are no nonfrivolous issues to appeal regarding the
    substantive reasonableness of Pierce’s sentence. Pierce’s 42-month sentence is certainly
    within the broad range of possible sentences and is below the statutory maximum. As to
    the specific argument identified and rejected in Counsel’s brief that Pierce’s sentence is
    unreasonable because it created an unwarranted sentence disparity among defendants, we
    agree that it is without merit. In support of her argument, Pierce erroneously relies on 
    18 U.S.C. § 3553
    (a)(6)4 to argue that that the District Court erred by failing to avoid an
    4
    
    18 U.S.C. § 3553
    (a)(6) states that a court, in determining the particular sentence to
    impose, shall consider “ the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among
    5
    unwarranted sentence disparity between her and her son, a co-participant in the drug
    distribution operation, who received a lesser sentence. We have concluded, however,
    “that Congress’s primary goal in enacting § 3553(a)(6) was to promote national
    uniformity in sentencing rather than uniformity among co-defendants in the same case.”
    United States v. Parker, 
    462 F.3d 273
    , 277 (3d Cir. 2006). Furthermore, the District Court
    determined that the sentencing disparity was warranted because Pierce was the most
    important player in the drug ring. Even if Pierce was able to carry the burden of showing
    that she was similarly situated to her son, the District Court’s decision to impose on her a
    heavier sentence clearly is not an abuse of discretion.
    *****
    We have considered all additional arguments advanced and conclude that no
    further discussion is needed. We will grant Counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the
    judgment of the District Court. Moreover, we conclude pursuant to Third Circuit Local
    Appellate Rule 109.2(b) that no issues of legal merit exist for purposes of filing a writ of
    certiorari in the Supreme Court.
    defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct.”
    6