US v. Ashonta Bush, No. 09-4153 (4th Cir. 2010)
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UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 09-4153 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff Appellee, v. ASHONTA BUSH, a/k/a Chubby, a/k/a Chubs, Defendant Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at New Bern. Louise W. Flanagan, Chief District Judge. (2:08-cr-00017-FL-1) Submitted: April 30, 2010 Before NIEMEYER and Senior Circuit Judge. GREGORY, Decided: Circuit Judges, June 22, 2010 and HAMILTON, Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Walter A. Schmidlin, III, STEWART & SCHMIDLIN, PLLC, Smithfield, North Carolina, for Appellant. Jennifer P. May-Parker, Assistant United States Attorney, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. PER CURIAM: Ashonta Bush pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy distribute hundred fifty grams (2006). to of distribute grams of cocaine, and cocaine in possess base violation with and of intent more 21 than U.S.C. to five § 846 According to the terms of Bush s plea agreement, Bush and the Government agreed that the relevant, provable quantities of controlled substances to be used in calculating Bush s base offense level were not more than four kilograms of cocaine and not more than four kilograms of cocaine base. At sentencing, the district court determined Bush was a career offender and that he had an advisory guidelines range of 240 to 293 months imprisonment. statutory The district court then sentenced Bush to the mandatory imprisonment. On minimum sentence 240 months Bush timely noted his appeal. appeal, Bush has filed a Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Bush s of Anders brief is whether a brief pursuant to The sole issue in violation of N.C.G.S. § 20-141.5, Speeding to Elude Arrest, qualifies as a predicate offense for purposes of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual ( USSG ) § 4B1.1 Career Offender enhancement. Bush has also The Government has not sought to invoke Bush s waiver of appellate rights against him. 2 filed a pro se supplemental brief, in which he raises a number of issues. Finding no error, we affirm. Bush argues that a violation of N.C.G.S. § 20-141.5 does not constitute a crime of violence for purposes of USSG § 4B1.1. Pursuant to USSG § 4B1.1, a defendant is subject to a Career Offender enhancement if: (i) the defendant was at least eighteen years of age at the time of the offense of conviction; (ii) the offense of conviction is a felony crime of violence or a controlled substance offense; and (iii) the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense. A crime of violence is a state or federal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year that (1) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or (2) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another. USSG § 4B1.2(a). Bush argues that Speeding to Elude Arrest does not fall within the otherwise prong of USSG § 4B1.2. A violation of N.C.G.S. § 20-141.5 involves purposeful, violent, and aggressive conduct such that Speeding to Elude Arrest is a violent felony for purposes of USSG § 4B1.2. United States v. Owens, 2010 WL 23163, *3 (4th Cir. 3 2010) (unpublished). Accordingly, Bush s argument is without merit. Bush has also filed a pro se supplemental brief in which he raises a litany of alleged errors. We have reviewed Bush s pro se supplemental brief and find the asserted errors without merit. In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record in this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal. We therefore documents, deny deny Bush s his motion motion for to compel appointment affirm Bush s conviction and sentence. production of of counsel, and This court requires that counsel inform Bush, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Bush 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 Bush. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal before contentions the court are adequately and argument presented would not in aid the the materials decisional process. AFFIRMED 4
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