Notice: Fourth Circuit Local Rule 36(c) States That Citation of Unpublished Dispositions is Disfavored Except for Establishing Res Judicata, Estoppel, or the Law of the Case and Requires Service of Copies of Cited Unpublished Dispositions of the Fourth Circuit.united States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Eva Marie St. Germain, A/k/a Eve Speir, Defendant-appellant, 105 F.3d 649 (4th Cir. 1997)

Eva Marie St. Germain pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C.A. § 846 (West Supp.1996). The district court departed below the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence on the government's motion under USSG § 5K1.1,^*  and sentenced St. Germain to a term of 72 months. St. Germain's counsel has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), raising two issues but stating that, in her view, there are no meritorious grounds for appeal. St. Germain was notified of her right to file a pro se supplemental brief, but has not filed a brief.

St. Germain's counsel suggests that the district court erred in departing only to 72 months because some of her co-defendants, whom she describes as more culpable, received lower sentences. However, appellate review of the extent of a downward departure is not available to a defendant unless the departure resulted in a sentence imposed in violation of law or resulted from an incorrect application of the guidelines. United States v. Hill, 70 F.3d 321, 324 (4th Cir. 1995). We discern no basis for review of the extent of the departure in this case.

Counsel also suggests that St. Germain received ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with her guilty plea because her lawyer did not obtain a written plea agreement. This claim was raised in St. Germain's previous § 2255 motion and found to be without merit.

In accordance with Anders, we have examined the entire record in _________________________________________________________________ this case and find no meritorious issues for appeal. We therefore affirm the conviction and sentence. We deny counsel's motion to withdraw at this time. This court requires that counsel inform her client, in writing, of her right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further 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. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the record and briefs, and oral argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED