United States v. Lauro Puentes-Hurtado

JORDAN, Circuit Judge:

When he pled guilty to narcotics and money laundering conspiracy charges, Lauro Puentes-Hurtado signed a plea agreement which contained a “limited”, appeal waiver. That waiver prohibited Mr. Puentes-Hurtado from appealing or collaterally attacking his conviction and sentence “on any ground,” unless the government appealed or the sentence was based on an upward departure or variance. See D.E. 338 at 18.

Despite the appeal waiver, Mr. Puentes-Hurtado pursued this appeal, arguing that his counsel’s ineffective assistance rendered his guilty plea involuntary, that the…