Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DANIEL A. RODRIGUEZ

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-06-17 Docket: 1:17-cr-20904-CMA-1 The eleventh-circuit dismissed the appeal in its entirety, granting the government’s motion to dismiss. Regarding the challenge to the district court’s order denying the return of $2,300 in special assessments and applying those funds toward an outstanding fine, the court held it lacked jurisdiction because the appellant’s notice of appeal only designated the amended judgment for review and failed to specifically identify the order regarding the assessment payments. In addressing the challenge to the 120-month sentence, the court applied a de novo standard of review to determine if the sentence appeal waiver in the plea agreement was valid. The court found the waiver enforceable because it was entered into knowingly and voluntarily, as evidenced by the defendant’s signature on the agreement and the specific finding requested by both parties that the waiver was knowing and voluntary. Since the district court imposed a statutory maximum sentence within the advisory guideline range, the appeal did not fall under the waiver’s exceptions for sentences exceeding statutory maximums or resulting from upward departures or variances. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal based on the valid appeal waiver. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.