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UNITED STATES v. FOSTER (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.2021-05-10No. No. 20-2671

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Opinion

[Unpublished]

Jason Foster pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), 846. As part of his plea agreement, he waived “his right to appeal his sentence” unless, as relevant here, it exceeded the statutory maximum. The district court

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gave him a 168-month sentence, which is below the statutory maximum. See id. § 841(b)(1)(A). In an Anders brief, Fosters counsel discusses the appeal waiver and the sentence, as well as requests permission to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967).

Upon careful review, we conclude that the waiver is both enforceable and applicable. See United States v. Scott, 627 F.3d 702, 704 (8th Cir. 2010) (reviewing this issue de novo); United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889–92 (8th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (explaining that an 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 and conclude that no other non-frivolous issues exist. See Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 82–83, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988). Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal and grant counsel permission to withdraw.

FOOTNOTES

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.   The Honorable Roseann A. Ketchmark, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

PER CURIAM.