UNITED STATES v. COBB (2020)

Christopher Cobb pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). The district court determined that the Hobbs Act robbery convictions were “crimes of violence” under the Sentencing Guidelines, see U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual§§ 4B1.1(a), 4B1.2(a) (2016), and sentenced Cobb accordingly as a career offender to 170 months in prison.

Cobb's sole argument on appeal is that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance at sentencing by failing to argue that Cobb was not a career offender because his Hobbs Act robbery offenses were not “crimes of violence” under the Guidelines.^* We generally do not address claims of ineffective assistance on direct appeal. United States v. Maynes, 880 F.3d 110, 113 n.1 (4th Cir. 2018). Instead, to allow for adequate development of the record, such claims should be raised in a motion brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. United States v. Baptiste, 596 F.3d 214, 216 n.1 (4th Cir. 2010). An exception exists where “an attorney's ineffectiveness conclusively appears on the face of the record,” United States v. Faulls, 821 F.3d 502, 507 (4th Cir. 2016), but the record before us does not conclusively establish ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore conclude that Cobb's claim should be raised, if at all, in a § 2255 motion.

Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   We previously denied the Government's motion to dismiss this appeal as barred by the appellate waiver in the plea agreement. United States v. Cobb, No. 18-4561 (4th Cir. May 9, 2019).

PER CURIAM:

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.