United States v. Cassini

MEMORANDUM *** Michael Alan Cassini appeals his sentence arising out of his conviction for wire and bank fraud. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 , 1344. He asserts ineffective assistance of counsel. 1 We affirm. While we do not generally consider ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct appeal, the record here is well enough developed to enable us to do so. See United States v. Jeronimo, 398 F.3d 1149, 1155-56 (9th Cir.2005); United States v. McKenna, 327 F.3d 830, 845 (9th Cir.2003). We have carefully reviewed the record and are able to determine that *788 counsel was not ineffective. In fact, the record shows that counsel’s representation was well “within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 , 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984) (internal quotation marks omitted). Counsel agreed to the various stipulations defendant now challenges — the loss calculation and the number of victims — in exchange for the government’s agreement to drop several of the charges. This was a reasonable strategic decision, given the weight of the evidence against defendant. Id. Moreover, counsel’s performance at the sentencing hearing did not bespeak ineffectiveness. For example, his tactic of attempting to make Cassini seem more troubled and picaresque than troubling and faeinorous was well within the range of competence that we demand and expect. AFFIRMED. This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. . He does not directly attack the sentence as such, only counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness.