United States v. Oscar Alavez

PER CURIAM. Oscar Alavez appeals the 87-month sentence the district court 1 imposed after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Alavez’s counsel has moved to withdraw and filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Counsel questions the reasonableness of the sentence, stating Alavez believes that his sentence is “extreme” and that the court should have been allowed to sentence him below the Guidelines range. The district court indicated the sentence was based on its consideration of the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and we cannot agree with Alavez that the sentence is extreme or unreasonable. See United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, ---, 125 S.Ct. 738, 764-66, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005) (sentencing courts must consult Guidelines and take them into account along with other § 3553(a) factors; § 3553(a) factors guide inquiry as appellate courts review sentences to determine whether they are unreasonable); cf. United States v. Jones, 2 F.3d 827, 828-29 (8th Cir.1993) (finding 151-month sentence for conspiring to distribute phencyclidine not “excessive”). Having reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), we find no nonfrivolous issues. Accordingly, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw, and we affirm. Footnotes [1] The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.