United States v. Jorge Guzman-Araujo ( 2021 )


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  •                 United States Court of Appeals
    For the Eighth Circuit
    ___________________________
    No. 20-2615
    ___________________________
    United States of America
    lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee
    v.
    Jorge Guzman-Araujo, also known as Luciano Lopez Valenzuela, also known as
    Jorge Guzman, also known as Luciano Valenzuela Lopez
    lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
    ____________
    Appeal from United States District Court
    for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City
    ____________
    Submitted: April 22, 2021
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    [Unpublished]
    ____________
    Before SHEPHERD, GRASZ, and KOBES, Circuit Judges.
    ____________
    PER CURIAM.
    Jorge Guzman-Araujo appeals the sentence the district court1 imposed after he
    pleaded guilty to drug and immigration offenses, pursuant to a plea agreement
    containing an appeal waiver. His counsel has moved for leave to withdraw, and has
    filed a brief under Anders v. California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967), challenging the
    sentence.
    Upon careful review, we conclude that the appeal waiver is valid, enforceable,
    and applicable to the issue raised in this appeal. See United States v. Scott, 
    627 F.3d 702
    , 704 (8th Cir. 2010) (validity and applicability of an appeal waiver is reviewed
    de novo); United States v. Andis, 
    333 F.3d 886
    , 889-92 (8th Cir. 2003) (en banc)
    (appeal waiver will be enforced if the appeal falls within the scope of the waiver, the
    defendant knowingly and voluntarily entered into the plea agreement and the waiver,
    and enforcing the waiver would not result in a miscarriage of justice). We have also
    independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 
    488 U.S. 75
     (1988), and
    have found no non-frivolous issues for appeal falling outside the scope of the waiver.
    Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal based on the appeal waiver, and we grant
    counsel’s motion to withdraw.
    ______________________________
    1
    The Honorable Greg Kays, United States District Judge for the Western
    District of Missouri.
    -2-