United States v. Richard Villarruel

MEMORANDUM

Richard Villarruel appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 46-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for 'conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 . Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 , 87 S.Ct. 1396 , 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), Villarru-el’s counsel has filed a brief stating that there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw as counsel of record. We have provided Villarruel the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental brief. No pro se supplemental brief or answering brief has been filed.

Villarruel has waived his right to appeal his sentence. Our independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 , 109 S.Ct. 346 , 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), discloses no arguable issue as to the validity of the waiver. See United States v. Watson, 582 F.3d 974, 986-88 (9th Cir.2009). We accordingly dismiss the appeal. See id. at 988 .

We remand the case to the district court with instructions to vacate the amended judgment and reinstate the original judgment. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 35(a); United States v. Aguilar-Reyes, 653 F.3d 1053, 1055-56 (9th…