US v. Cynthia Poakwa
Filing
920100304
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 09-4472
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. CYNTHIA POAKWA, a/k/a Cynthia Barbour, Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, at Greenbelt. Roger W. Titus, District Judge. (8:07cr-00141-RWT-1)
Submitted:
January 14, 2010
Decided:
March 4, 2010
Before GREGORY, SHEDD, and AGEE, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
James Wyda, Federal Public Defender, Martin G. Bahl, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellant. Bryan E. Foreman, Assistant United States Attorney, Greenbelt, Maryland, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM: Cynthia Poakwa pleaded guilty to four counts of aiding and abetting the filing of fraudulent tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2) (2006). The district court sentenced
Poakwa to thirty-three months of imprisonment and Poakwa now appeals. Her attorney has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), raising two issues but stating that there are no meritorious issues for appeal. In district knowing the Anders erred in brief, counsel We affirm. whether plea in the as the
questions
court and
accepting Because
Poakwa's did
guilty not move
voluntary.
Poakwa
district court to withdraw her guilty plea, any error in the Rule 11 hearing is reviewed 277 F.3d for plain 525 error. (4th See Cir. United 2002).
States v.
Martinez,
517,
Furthermore, there is a strong presumption that a defendant's guilty plea is binding and voluntary if she has received an adequate Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 hearing. United States v. Puckett,
61 F.3d 1092, 1099 (4th Cir. 1995); see Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 74 (1977) (finding that statements made during a plea hearing of "carry a strong presumption that of the verity"). district Our court We in
review
the
record
discloses
substantially complied with the requirements of Rule 11. conclude, therefore, that the district court did not err
accepting Poakwa's guilty plea as knowing and voluntary. 2
Counsel next questions whether the sentence imposed by the district court is reasonable. reasonableness, applying an abuse We review a sentence for of discretion standard.
Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007); see also United States v. Layton, 564 F.3d 330, 335 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 130 S. Ct. 290 (2009). In so doing, we first examine the
sentence for "significant procedural error," including "failing to calculate (or improperly calculating) the [g]uidelines range, treating the [g]uidelines as mandatory, failing to consider the [18 U.S.C.] on § 3553(a) [(2006)] factors, or selecting failing to a sentence
based
clearly
erroneous
facts,
adequately
explain the chosen sentence . . . ."
Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597.
This court then "`consider[s] the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed.'" United States v. Evans, 526 F.3d 155,
161 (4th Cir.) (quoting Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 476 (2008). "Substantive reasonableness review
entails taking into account the `totality of the circumstances, including range.'" the extent of any variance from the [g]uidelines
United States v. Pauley, 511 F.3d 468, 473 (4th Cir. If the sentence is a presumption of
2007) (quoting Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597). within the guidelines range, we apply
reasonableness.
United States v. Allen, 491 F.3d 178, 193 (4th
Cir. 2007); see Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 346-56
3
(2007)
(upholding
presumption
of
reasonableness
for
within-guidelines sentence). We have thoroughly reviewed the record and find that the sentence is both procedurally and substantively reasonable. The district court properly calculated the advisory guidelines range, considered the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, and provided a comprehensive explanation of its chosen sentence. See United In of
States v. Carter, 564 F.3d 325, 328-30 (4th Cir. 2009). addition, substantive sentence. Poakwa has failed we to rebut to the her presumption
reasonableness
accord
within-guidelines
We have examined the entire record in accordance with the requirements of Anders and have found no meritorious issues for appeal. court. writing, This of We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court requires to that counsel the inform Poakwa, of in the
the
right
petition
Supreme
Court
United States for further review.
If Poakwa requests that a
petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must We dispense and legal
state that a copy thereof was served on Poakwa. with oral argument because the facts
4
contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
5
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