United States v. Demetrius Smith ( 2023 )


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  •                   United States Court of Appeals
    For the Eighth Circuit
    ___________________________
    No. 22-3325
    ___________________________
    United States of America
    lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee
    v.
    Demetrius Smith
    lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
    ____________
    Appeal from United States District Court
    for the Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis
    ____________
    Submitted: May 17, 2023
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    [Unpublished]
    ____________
    Before COLLOTON, ERICKSON, and KOBES, Circuit Judges.
    ____________
    PER CURIAM.
    Demetrius Smith appeals the above-Guidelines-range sentence imposed by the
    district court1 after he pled guilty to several counts of Hobbs Act robbery and a count
    1
    The Honorable Ronnie L. White, United States District Judge for the Eastern
    District of Missouri.
    of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, pursuant to a plea agreement containing an appeal
    waiver. His counsel has moved to withdraw, and has filed a brief under Anders v.
    California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967), arguing the district court committed procedural error
    at sentencing and imposed an unreasonable sentence.
    Upon careful review, we conclude that the appeal waiver is valid, enforceable,
    and applicable to the issues raised in this appeal. See United States v. Scott, 
    627 F.3d 702
    , 704 (8th Cir. 2010) (reviewing de novo validity and applicability of appeal
    waiver); United States v. Andis, 
    333 F.3d 886
    , 889-92 (8th Cir. 2003) (en banc)
    (enforcing appeal waiver if appeal falls within scope of waiver, defendant knowingly
    and voluntarily entered into waiver and plea agreement, and enforcing waiver would
    not result in miscarriage of justice).
    Further, having independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 
    488 U.S. 75
     (1988), we find no non-frivolous issues for appeal outside the scope of the
    appeal waiver. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal based on the appeal waiver, and
    we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.
    ______________________________
    -2-