United States of America v. Jose Antonio Diaz

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent*
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without**
oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
JC/Research
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
JOSE ANTONIO DIAZ,
Defendant - Appellant.
No. 08-30250
D.C. No. 3:07-cr-00071-RRB
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Alaska
Ralph R. Beistline, Chief District Judge, Presiding
Submitted November 17, 2009**
Before: ALARCÓN, TROTT, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.
Jose Antonio Diaz appeals from the 120-month sentence imposed following
his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of
cocaine and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1) and
FILED
DEC 14 2009
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U .S. C OU R T OF APPE ALS

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21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(a)(A) and 846. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291, and we affirm.
As an initial matter, the government contends this appeal is barred by the
written appeal waiver in Diaz’s plea agreement. This contention is unpersuasive
because the district court advised Diaz at the change of plea hearing that he could
appeal. See United States v. Buchanan, 59 F.3d 914, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1995); see
also United States v. Felix, 561 F.3d 1036, 1041 (9th Cir. 2009).
Diaz contends his attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel by
failing to secure the necessary services of an interpreter to communicate with him.
Although we generally do not review such claims on direct appeal, here the record
is sufficiently developed to permit us to resolve the issue. See United States v.
Labrada-Bustamante, 428 F.3d 1252, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 2005). Even if counsel’s
performance was deficient, there is no “reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s [allegedly] unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different.” See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984). Because
Diaz was not prejudiced by his counsel’s allegedly deficient performance, we
reject his contention that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. See id. at
697; Labrada-Bustamante, 428 F.3d at 1261.
Finally, Diaz contends the district court erred by failing to appoint a Spanish

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interpreter to assist him to communicate with his attorney during private meetings.
This contention fails. See 28 U.S.C. § 1827(d)(1); see also United States v. Si,
343 F.3d 1116, 1122 (9th Cir. 2003).
AFFIRMED.

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