UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Raymond Archie BOYD, Jr., Defendant-Appellant, 525 F. App'x 897

PER CURIAM: James W. Smith, III, appointed counsel for Raymond Boyd, Jr., in this direct criminal appeal, has moved to withdraw from further representation of the appellant and filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 886 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Our independent review of the entire record reveals that counsel’s assessment of the relative merit of the appeal is correct. Because independent examination of the entire record reveals no arguable issues of merit, counsel’s motion to withdraw is GRANTED, and Boyd’s conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED. .

We have conducted our review without applying the appeal waiver in the plea agreement because the district court failed to sufficiently discuss the waiver with Boyd at the change of plea hearing. See, e.g., United States v. Johnson, 541 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir.2008).