United States v. Cureton , 53 F. App'x 257 ( 2002 )


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  •                           UNPUBLISHED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,              
    Plaintiff-Appellee,
    v.
               No. 02-4134
    JACKIE DENISE CURETON, a/k/a Jackie
    Cureton Little,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of North Carolina, at Charlotte.
    Richard L. Voorhees, District Judge.
    (CR-00-180-V)
    Submitted: December 3, 2002
    Decided: December 19, 2002
    Before NIEMEYER and MOTZ, Circuit Judges, and
    HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
    Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
    COUNSEL
    Danielle Bess Obiroah, MASON-WATSON, OBIROAH & SINGLE-
    TARY, P.C., Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellant. Kenneth
    Michel Smith, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY,
    Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellee.
    2                     UNITED STATES v. CURETON
    Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
    Local Rule 36(c).
    OPINION
    PER CURIAM:
    Jackie Denise Cureton appeals the district court’s order sentencing
    her to thirty months imprisonment following her guilty plea to two
    counts of uttering forged securities in violation of 
    18 U.S.C. § 513
    (a)
    (2000), and two counts of making false statements in violation of 
    18 U.S.C. §§ 1001
    , 1014 (2000).
    Cureton’s counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. Califor-
    nia, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967), in which she states there are no meritorious
    issues on which to base an appeal, but asserts Cureton’s desire to
    challenge the district court’s refusal to award her an adjustment for
    acceptance of responsibility. Cureton was advised of her right to file
    a pro se brief, but she did not do so.
    We review a sentencing court’s evaluation of acceptance of respon-
    sibility under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Ruhe,
    
    191 F.3d 376
    , 388 (4th Cir. 1999). After receiving testimony at the
    sentencing hearing, the district court concluded that Cureton had con-
    tinued to engage in criminal activity after her guilty plea. Continuing
    criminal activity is the antithesis of acceptance of responsibility and
    is an appropriate consideration in the denial of credit for the same
    within the scope of the sentencing guidelines. See United States v.
    Franks, 
    46 F.3d 402
    , 406 (5th Cir. 1995); United States v. Panadero,
    
    7 F.3d 691
    , 694 (7th Cir. 1993).
    Our review of the record discloses substantial evidence on which
    the district court could properly base its conclusion. Furthermore, we
    have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with the
    requirements of Anders and find no meritorious issues for appeal.
    Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
    This court requires that counsel inform her client, in writing, of her
    right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further
    UNITED STATES v. CURETON                      3
    review. If the client 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. Coun-
    sel’s motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.
    We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conten-
    tions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
    argument would not aid the decisional process.
    AFFIRMED
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 02-4134

Citation Numbers: 53 F. App'x 257

Judges: Niemeyer, Motz, Hamilton

Filed Date: 12/19/2002

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/6/2024