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United States v. Volna Gales
USCA4 Appeal: 23-4383 Doc: 48 Filed: 06/17/2024 Pg: 1 of 3
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 23-4383
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
VOLNA GALES,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Wilmington. James C. Dever III, District Judge. (7:21-cr-00088-D-1)
Submitted: June 13, 2024 Decided: June 17, 2024
Before RUSHING and HEYTENS, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part by unpublished per curiam opinion.
ON BRIEF: Joseph L. Bell Jr., BATTS, BATTS & BELL, LLP, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, for Appellant. David A. Bragdon, Assistant United States Attorney, Kristine L. Fritz, Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. *2 USCA4 Appeal: 23-4383 Doc: 48 Filed: 06/17/2024 Pg: 2 of 3
PER CURIAM:
Volna Gales pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to distributing a
quantity of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). Gales’ counsel
has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), questioning whether
Gales’ sentence is procedurally and substantively reasonable. Gales has not filed a pro se
supplemental brief after being advised of his right to do so.
The Government has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that Gales’
appeal is barred by the appeal waiver included in the plea agreement. We review de novo
the validity of an appeal waiver. United States v. Cohen, 888 F.3d 667, 678 (4th Cir. 2018).
Where, as here, the Government seeks to enforce the appeal waiver and has not breached
the plea agreement, we will enforce the waiver if it is valid and the issue being appealed
falls within the waiver’s scope. United States v. Manigan, 592 F.3d 621, 627 (4th Cir.
2010).
A defendant validly waives his appeal rights if he agreed to the waiver “knowingly
and intelligently.” Id. To determine whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent, “we
consider the totality of the circumstances, including the experience and conduct of the
defendant, his educational background, and his knowledge of the plea agreement and its
terms.” United States v. McCoy, 895 F.3d 358, 362 (4th Cir. 2018) (internal quotation
marks omitted). Generally, “if a district court questions a defendant regarding the waiver
of appellate rights during the [Fed. R. Crim. P.] 11 colloquy and the record indicates that
the defendant understood the full significance of the waiver, the waiver is valid.” Id.
(internal quotation marks omitted). *3 USCA4 Appeal: 23-4383 Doc: 48 Filed: 06/17/2024 Pg: 3 of 3
Upon review of the plea agreement and the transcript of the Rule 11 hearing, we
conclude that Gales knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal and that his
challenge to his sentence falls squarely within the scope of the appellate waiver. While
counsel questions if an appeal waiver can ever truly be voluntary, counsel’s argument is
foreclosed by our precedent.
Pursuant to Anders, we have reviewed the entire record and have found no
meritorious issues for appeal that fall outside the scope of the appeal waiver. We therefore
grant the Government’s motion to dismiss in part and dismiss the appeal as to all issues
within the waiver’s scope. We affirm the remainder of the district court’s judgment. This
court requires that counsel inform Gales, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme
Court of the United States for further review. If Gales 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 state that a copy
thereof was served on Gales.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are
adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the
decisional process.