USA v. Sunday Ayangade, No. 08-4290 (7th Cir. 2010)

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This opinion or order relates to an opinion or order originally issued on December 11, 2009.

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NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 United States Court of Appeals ForȱtheȱSeventhȱCircuit Chicago,ȱIllinoisȱ60604 SubmittedȱDecemberȱ10,ȱ2009 DecidedȱJanuaryȱ7,ȱ2010 Before WILLIAMȱJ.ȱBAUER,ȱCircuitȱJudge TERENCEȱT.ȱEVANS,ȱCircuitȱJudge ANNȱCLAIREȱWILLIAMS,ȱCircuitȱJudge No.ȱ08Ȭ4290 UNITEDȱSTATESȱOFȱAMERICA, ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱPlaintiffȬAppellee, AppealȱfromȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱDistrict CourtȱforȱtheȱSouthernȱDistrictȱofȱIndiana, IndianapolisȱDivision. v. No.ȱ1:08CR00019Ȭ001 SUNDAYȱO.ȱAYANGADE, DefendantȬAppellant. SarahȱEvansȱBarker, Judge. OȱRȱDȱEȱR SundayȱAyangadeȱwasȱchargedȱunderȱtheȱInternationalȱParentalȱKidnappingȱCrime Actȱwithȱinterferingȱwithȱtheȱparentalȱrightsȱofȱhisȱformerȱwifeȱbyȱremovingȱtheirȱtwo childrenȱfromȱtheȱUnitedȱStates.ȱȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±1204.ȱȱDespiteȱongoingȱmarriageȬdissolution andȱcustodyȱproceedingsȱinȱIndianaȱstateȱcourt,ȱAyangadeȱtookȱtheȱchildrenȱtoȱNigeriaȱand gaveȱhisȱbrotherȱlegalȱguardianshipȱoverȱthemȱunderȱNigerianȱlaw.ȱȱUponȱhisȱreturnȱtoȱthe UnitedȱStates,ȱAyangadeȱwasȱarrested,ȱpleadedȱguiltyȱtoȱoneȱchargeȱofȱparentalȱkidnapping, andȱreceivedȱaȱsentenceȱofȱ24ȱmonths ȱimprisonmentȱandȱaȱ$ȱ2,000ȱfine.ȱȱAyangadeȱfiledȱa noticeȱofȱappeal,ȱbutȱhisȱappointedȱattorneyȱisȱunableȱtoȱfindȱaȱnonfrivolousȱbasisȱforȱthe appealȱandȱhasȱmovedȱtoȱwithdrawȱunderȱAndersȱv.ȱCalifornia,ȱ386ȱU.S.ȱ738ȱ(1967).ȱ Ayangadeȱrespondedȱtoȱtheȱmotionȱwithȱaȱshortȱletterȱgenerallyȱdisagreeingȱwithȱhis No.ȱ08Ȭ4290 Pageȱ2 convictionȱandȱsentence.ȱȱThatȱleavesȱus,ȱthen,ȱwithȱonlyȱtheȱpotentialȱissuesȱidentifiedȱin counsel sȱfaciallyȱadequateȱsupportingȱbrief.ȱȱSeeȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱSchuh,ȱ289ȱF.3dȱ968,ȱ973Ȭ74 (7thȱCir.ȱ2002). BecauseȱAyangadeȱhasȱtoldȱcounselȱthatȱheȱwantsȱhisȱguiltyȱpleaȱsetȱaside,ȱcounsel firstȱaddressesȱwhetherȱthereȱisȱanyȱbasisȱtoȱchallengeȱtheȱplea.ȱȱSeeȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱKnox,ȱ287 F.3dȱ667,ȱ671Ȭ72ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2002).ȱȱButȱAyangadeȱdidȱnotȱseekȱtoȱwithdrawȱhisȱpleaȱinȱthe districtȱcourt,ȱsoȱweȱwouldȱexamineȱtheȱpleaȱcolloquyȱforȱplainȱerror.ȱȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱVonn, 535ȱU.S.ȱ55,ȱ59ȱ(2002);ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱSura,ȱ511ȱF.3dȱ654,ȱ658ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2007).ȱȱȱȱ CounselȱinitiallyȱconsidersȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱmightȱchallengeȱtheȱvoluntarinessȱof hisȱpleaȱwhenȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱdidȱnotȱwhollyȱcomplyȱwithȱRuleȱ11ȱofȱtheȱFederalȱRulesȱof CriminalȱProcedureȱinȱconductingȱtheȱpleaȱcolloquy.ȱȱFirst,ȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱdidȱnotȱwarn Ayangadeȱthatȱhisȱstatementsȱunderȱoathȱcouldȱsubjectȱhimȱtoȱperjuryȱcharges.ȱȱFED.ȱR. CRIM.ȱP.ȱ11(b)(1)(A).ȱȱButȱAyangadeȱwasȱnotȱharmedȱbyȱtheȱomissionȱbecauseȱheȱisȱnot facingȱperjuryȱcharges.ȱȱSeeȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱGraves,ȱ98ȱF.3dȱ258,ȱ259ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ1996).ȱȱSecond, AyangadeȱwasȱnotȱinformedȱofȱhisȱrightȱtoȱaȱgovernmentȬappointedȱlawyer.ȱȱFED.ȱR.ȱCRIM. P.ȱ11(b)(1)(D).ȱȱButȱthatȱruleȱinformsȱaȱpartyȱmerelyȱofȱhisȱrightȱtoȱappointedȱcounselȱ if necessary. ȱȱId.ȱȱWhenȱAyangadeȱpleadedȱguiltyȱheȱwasȱrepresentedȱbyȱprivatelyȱobtained counsel,ȱsoȱappointedȱcounselȱwasȱnotȱnecessary,ȱandȱtheȱomissionȱwasȱharmless.ȱȱSee UnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱLovett,ȱ844ȱF.2dȱ487,ȱ491Ȭ92ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ1988).ȱȱLast,ȱtheȱcourtȱdidȱnotȱtell Ayangadeȱthatȱheȱhadȱtheȱrightȱtoȱtestifyȱandȱpresentȱevidenceȱatȱtrial.ȱȱFED.ȱR.ȱCRIM.ȱP. 11(b)(1)(E).ȱȱButȱtheȱcourtȱdidȱadviseȱAyangadeȱheȱdidȱnotȱhaveȱtoȱtestifyȱifȱheȱdidȱnotȱwant toȱandȱcouldȱsubpoenaȱwitnessesȱtoȱtestify.ȱȱFromȱthisȱAyangadeȱcouldȱinferȱthatȱheȱcould chooseȱtoȱtestifyȱandȱpresentȱevidenceȱatȱtrial,ȱandȱAyangadeȱdoesȱnotȱclaimȱtoȱhaveȱbeen unawareȱofȱtheseȱrights.ȱȱTheȱcourt sȱfailureȱtoȱsayȱmoreȱdoesȱnotȱriseȱtoȱtheȱlevelȱofȱplain error.ȱȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱDriver,ȱ242ȱF.3dȱ767,ȱ771ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2001).ȱȱWeȱagreeȱwithȱcounselȱthat anyȱchallengeȱtoȱtheȱpleaȱcolloquyȱwouldȱbeȱfrivolous. ȱ CounselȱnextȱexaminesȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱcouldȱchallengeȱtheȱcourt sȱfailureȱto grantȱhisȱmotionȱtoȱdismissȱtheȱindictmentȱbecauseȱthereȱwereȱinsufficientȱfactsȱtoȱestablish anȱoffenseȱandȱtheȱkidnappingȱstatuteȱwasȱunconstitutionallyȱvague.ȱȱButȱAyangade sȱplea waivedȱonȱappealȱanyȱchallengeȱtoȱtheȱindictment.ȱȱSeeȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱKingcade,ȱ562ȱF.3d 794,ȱ797ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2009);ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱCampbell,ȱ324ȱF.3dȱ497,ȱ499ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2003). CounselȱalsoȱexaminesȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱcouldȱargueȱthatȱtheȱgovernment breachedȱtheȱpleaȱagreementȱbyȱaskingȱtheȱcourtȱtoȱsentenceȱhimȱ toȱtheȱfullestȱextentȱofȱthe law ȱratherȱthanȱrecommendȱaȱwithinȬrangeȱsentence,ȱasȱsetȱforthȱinȱtheȱagreement.ȱȱThe districtȱcourt,ȱthough,ȱconstruedȱtheȱgovernment sȱrequestȱasȱrecommendingȱaȱsentenceȱat theȱhighȱendȱof butȱwithin theȱguidelinesȱrange,ȱandȱtheȱgovernmentȱconfirmedȱthis No.ȱ08Ȭ4290 Pageȱ3 interpretation.ȱȱAccordingly,ȱweȱagreeȱthatȱtheȱgovernmentȱdidȱnotȱbreachȱtheȱagreementȱby seekingȱaȱwithinȬrangeȱsentence. ȱ CounselȱnextȱevaluatesȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱcouldȱargueȱthatȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱerred inȱapplyingȱaȱ3ȬlevelȱupwardȱadjustmentȱunderȱU.S.S.G.ȱ§È±2J1.2(b)(2)ȱonȱtheȱgroundȱthat Ayangade sȱkidnappingȱoffenseȱresultedȱinȱaȱsubstantialȱinterferenceȱwithȱthe administrationȱofȱjustice.ȱȱTheȱcourtȱappliedȱthisȱadjustmentȱbecauseȱAyangade sȱremovalȱof theȱcouple sȱchildrenȱfromȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱinterferedȱwithȱtheȱongoingȱmarriageȬ dissolutionȱandȱcustodyȱproceedingsȱinȱIndianaȱstateȱcourt.ȱȱByȱtakingȱtheȱchildrenȱoutȱof theȱcountryȱandȱrefusingȱtoȱreturnȱthemȱtoȱIndiana,ȱAyangadeȱeffectivelyȱpreventedȱthe stateȱcourtȱfromȱenteringȱanyȱenforceableȱordersȱgivingȱAyangade sȱwifeȱcustodyȱor visitationȱrights.ȱȱCounselȱconsidersȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱcouldȱargueȱthatȱhisȱconductȱwas notȱenoughȱtoȱconstituteȱaȱsubstantialȱinterferenceȱwithȱtheȱadministrationȱofȱjustice,ȱbutȱwe wouldȱagreeȱwithȱtheȱSecondȱCircuitȱthatȱanȱupwardȱadjustmentȱunderȱ§È±2J1.2(b)(2)ȱis appropriateȱwhenȱtheȱdefendant,ȱbyȱtakingȱorȱretainingȱhisȱchildȱoutsideȱtheȱcountry, interferedȱwithȱaȱstateȱcourt sȱabilityȱtoȱdecideȱwhereȱandȱwithȱwhomȱtheȱchildȱshould reside.ȱȱSeeȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱHasan,ȱ586ȱF.3dȱ161,ȱ169ȱ(2dȱCir.ȱ2009);ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱAmer,ȱ110 F.3dȱ873,ȱ885ȱ(2dȱCir.ȱ1997). CounselȱalsoȱexaminesȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱmightȱargueȱthatȱtheȱcourt sȱsentenceȱof 24ȱmonths ȱimprisonmentȱwasȱimproperȱbecauseȱitȱexceededȱtheȱmaximumȱsentenceȱofȱ21 monthsȱrecommendedȱbyȱtheȱguidelines.ȱȱButȱaȱsentenceȱoutsideȱtheȱguidelinesȱis permissibleȱifȱitȱconformsȱtoȱtheȱsentencingȱfactorsȱunderȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3553(a)ȱandȱtheȱcourt providesȱcompellingȱjustificationȱforȱtheȱincrease.ȱȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱGooden,ȱ564ȱF.3dȱ887,ȱ890Ȭ 91ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2009).ȱȱHereȱtheȱcourtȱadequatelyȱsubstantiatedȱtheȱthreeȬmonthȱincreaseȱby explainingȱthatȱAyangadeȱcompoundedȱtheȱdegreeȱofȱharmȱbyȱgivingȱhisȱbrother guardianshipȱoverȱtheȱchildren,ȱtherebyȱputtingȱthemȱbeyondȱtheȱreachȱofȱtheirȱmotherȱin anyȱway.ȱ ȱLast,ȱcounselȱexaminesȱwhetherȱAyangadeȱcouldȱchallengeȱtheȱcourt sȱimpositionȱof aȱ$ȱ2,000ȱfineȱbecauseȱitȱwasȱbelowȱtheȱminimumȱrecommendedȱfineȱofȱ$ȱ4,000.ȱȱWeȱhave noted,ȱhowever,ȱ [i]tȱisȱhardȱtoȱconceiveȱofȱbelowȬrangeȱsentencesȱthatȱwouldȱbe unreasonablyȱhigh. ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱGeorge,ȱ403ȱF.3dȱ470,ȱ473ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2005).ȱȱWeȱagreeȱwith counselȱthatȱAyangadeȱwouldȱhaveȱnoȱbasisȱtoȱcontestȱhisȱsentence. Accordingly,ȱtheȱmotionȱtoȱwithdrawȱisȱGRANTED,ȱandȱtheȱappealȱisȱDISMISSED.

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