United States of America v. Tazell Teandre Williams
July 16, 2026·26-1029·Panel Decision·By James Taylor
The Eighth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a defendant who had entered a plea agreement containing an appeal waiver. The court found the waiver valid and enforceable, concluding there were no non-frivolous issues for appeal outside its scope.
Tazell Williams appealed his sentence following a guilty plea to drug conspiracy and firearm offenses. His plea agreement included a written appeal waiver. Counsel filed a brief under Anders v. California seeking to withdraw and challenging the sentence.
The court’s reasoning
The court concluded that the appeal waiver was valid, enforceable, and applicable to the issues raised. After independently reviewing the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, the court found no non-frivolous issues for appeal outside the scope of the appeal waiver.
What it means going forward
The dismissal prevents the defendant from pursuing further appellate review of the sentence based on the enforceable appeal waiver.
