Filed: Feb. 06, 2019
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 17-1278 _ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHARLES STANSBURY, Appellant _ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Crim. No. 2-14-cr-00323-020) Honorable Gerald A. McHugh, District Judge _ Submitted under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) October 23, 2018 BEFORE: KRAUSE, COWEN, and FUENTES, Circuit Judges (Filed: February 6, 2019) _ OPINION* _ _ * This disposition is not an opi
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 17-1278 _ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHARLES STANSBURY, Appellant _ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Crim. No. 2-14-cr-00323-020) Honorable Gerald A. McHugh, District Judge _ Submitted under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) October 23, 2018 BEFORE: KRAUSE, COWEN, and FUENTES, Circuit Judges (Filed: February 6, 2019) _ OPINION* _ _ * This disposition is not an opin..
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
______________
No. 17-1278
______________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
CHARLES STANSBURY,
Appellant
______________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Crim. No. 2-14-cr-00323-020)
Honorable Gerald A. McHugh, District Judge
______________
Submitted under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
October 23, 2018
BEFORE: KRAUSE, COWEN, and FUENTES, Circuit Judges
(Filed: February 6, 2019)
______________
OPINION*
______________
____________________
* This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7
does not constitute binding precedent.
COWEN, Circuit Judge.
Charles Stansbury appeals from the criminal conviction and sentence entered by
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Defense counsel
has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel under Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738
(1967). We will grant the motion to withdraw and affirm Stansbury’s conviction and
sentence.
I.
Stansbury pled guilty to a number of drug charges (one count of conspiracy to
distribute crack cocaine and heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, four counts of
distribution of controlled substances within 1000 feet of a protected location in violation
of 21 U.S.C. § 860(a) and 18 U.S.C. § 2, one count each for distribution of crack cocaine
and heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and § 2, and one count of
using a juvenile in a drug trafficking offense in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 861(a)(1)). The
government and the defense agreed to a sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment and eight
years of supervised release. The District Court imposed the stipulated sentence.
II.
Counsel for Stansbury has filed a motion to withdraw as well as a brief under
Anders explaining that there are no nonfrivolous issues to appeal.1 An Anders brief and
motion trigger a two-step inquiry. First, we consider whether defense counsel has
1
The District Court had subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231,
and we possess appellate jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3742 and 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The
Court exercises plenary review to determine whether there are any nonfrivolous issues.
See, e.g., Simon v. Gov’t of the Virgin Islands,
679 F.3d 109, 114 (3d Cir. 2012).
2
established that he or she “has thoroughly examined the record in search of appealable
issues” and “explain[ed] why the issues are frivolous.” United States v. Youla,
241 F.3d
296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001) (citing United States v. Marvin,
211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir.
2000)). If we are satisfied with the attorney’s brief, we then undertake an independent
review of the record to determine whether there are any nonfrivolous issues.
Id. A copy
of the defense counsel’s brief was furnished to Stansbury, and he was given an
opportunity to file a pro se brief. No such pro se brief was filed.
We conclude that defense counsel has satisfied his Anders obligations and agree
that this proceeding does not implicate any nonfrivolous issues. He persuasively explains
how the District Court substantially complied with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure
11 governing guilty pleas as well as the procedural and substantive requirements for
sentencing. Stansbury’s guilty plea was clearly knowing and voluntary. See, e.g., United
States v. Lessner,
498 F.3d 185, 192-93 (3d Cir. 2007). Defense counsel acknowledges
that his client initially stated at sentencing that he had not reviewed the presentence
investigation report (“PSR”) and that the District Court did not advise Stansbury of the
statutory maximum and mandatory sentences. However, counsel indicated on the record
that they did discuss the PSR, and Stansbury admitted that he was aware of the
Sentencing Guidelines and was satisfied with the representation he received. The District
Court also had explained the applicable statutory minimum and maximum sentences at
the change of plea hearing. It then sentenced Stansbury to the stipulated sentence of 120
months’ imprisonment (and eight years’ supervised release), which was far below the
applicable Guidelines range. Noting Stansbury’s prior record as well as the fact that most
3
of his participation in this case “was at the street level and in smaller quantities than some
of the other Defendants,” the District Court was “satisfied that 120 months takes into
account the seriousness of the crime, takes into account the need to promote respect for
the rule of law and would be a significant enough sentence for a person of Mr.
Stansbury’s age to deter him from any future unlawful conduct.” (JA67 (also recognizing
that Stansbury had some challenges in his life, including premature birth and substance
abuse problems).)
III.
We will grant the motion to withdraw filed by Stansbury’s counsel and will affirm
his conviction and sentence.
4