Opinion
Case No. 2:14-cr-0076
05-05-2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. ERICA A. BALLANTINE, Defendant.
Judge George C. Smith
Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
The United States of America and Defendant Erica A. Ballantine entered into a plea agreement whereby Defendant agreed to enter a plea of guilty to a one count Information charging her with conspiracy to defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 286. On May 1, 2014, Defendant, accompanied by her counsel, appeared for an arraignment. Defendant consented, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(3), to enter a guilty plea before a Magistrate Judge. See United States v. Cukaj, 2001 WL 1587410 at *1 (6th Cir. 2001)(Magistrate Judge may accept a guilty plea with the express consent of the Defendant and where no objection to the report and recommendation is filed). Defendant also waived her right to an Indictment in open court and after being advised of the nature of the charge and of her rights. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b).
During the plea proceeding, the undersigned observed the appearance and responsiveness of Defendant in answering questions. Based on that observation, the undersigned is satisfied that, at the time she entered his guilty plea, Defendant was in full possession of her faculties, was not suffering from any apparent physical or mental illness, and was not under the influence of narcotics or alcohol.
Prior to accepting Defendant's plea, the undersigned addressed her personally and in open court and determined her competence to plead. Based on the observations of the undersigned, Defendant understands the nature and meaning of the charge returned in the Information and the consequences of her plea. Defendant was also addressed personally and in open court and advised of each of the rights referred to in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Having engaged in the colloquy required by Rule 11, the Court concludes that Defendant's plea is voluntary. Defendant acknowledged that the plea agreement signed by her, her attorney and the attorney for the United States and filed on February 5, 2014 represents the only promises made to her by anyone regarding the charge in the Information. The undersigned specifically addressed those provisions of the plea agreement regarding waiver of her right to appeal the Court's judgment against her; the imposition of a sentence; to collaterally attack her conviction and sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255; and any other means of collateral attack under a habeas corpus. Defendant was advised that the District Judge may accept or reject the plea agreement or any term therein.
The undersigned advised Defendant the Court will defer its decision to accept or reject the plea agreement until the Court has an opportunity to consider the presentence report but that, if the Court rejects it, Defendant will have an opportunity to withdraw her plea of guilty. The undersigned cautioned Defendant that, if she chooses not to withdraw her plea of guilty, the Court may impose a more severe sentence and dispose of the case less favorably than this current plea agreement contemplates, and could, in fact, impose any sentence up to the statutory maximum set forth for the offense to which she pleaded guilty.
Defendant confirmed the accuracy of the material aspects of the investigating officer's statement of facts supporting the charge. She confirmed that she is pleading guilty to Count One of the Information because she is in fact guilty of the offense charged in the Information. The Court concludes that there is a factual basis for the plea.
The Court concludes that Defendant's plea of guilty to the Information is knowingly and voluntarily made with the understanding of the nature and meaning of the charge and of the consequences of her plea.
It is therefore RECOMMENDED that Defendant Erica A. Ballantine's guilty plea to Count One of the Information be accepted. Decision on acceptance or rejection of the plea agreement was deferred for consideration by the District Judge after the preparation of a presentence investigation report.
In accordance with S.D. Ohio Crim. R. 32.1, a written presentence investigation report will be prepared by the United States Probation Office. Defendant will be asked to provide information and her attorney may be present if Defendant so wishes. Objections to the presentence report must be made in accordance with the rules of this Court.
If any party seeks review by the District Judge of this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen (14) days, file and serve on all parties objections to the Report and Recommendation, specifically designating this Report and Recommendation, and the part thereof in question, as well as the basis for objection thereto. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). Response to objections must be filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy thereof. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
The parties are specifically advised that the failure to object to the Report and Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to de novo review by the District Judge and waiver of the right to appeal the judgment of the District Court. See, e.g., Pfahler v. Nat'l Latex Prod. Co., 517 F.3d 816, 829 (6th Cir. 2007) (holding that "failure to object to the magistrate judge's recommendations constituted a waiver of [the defendant's] ability to appeal the district court's ruling"); United States v. Sullivan, 431 F.3d 976, 984 (6th Cir. 2005) (holding that defendant waived appeal of district court's denial of pretrial motion by failing to timely object to magistrate judge's report and recommendation). Even when timely objections are filed, appellate review of issues not raised in those objections is waived. Robert v. Tesson, 507 F.3d 981, 994 (6th Cir. 2007) ("[A] general objection to a magistrate judge's report, which fails to specify the issues of contention, does not suffice to preserve an issue for appeal . . . .") (citation omitted)).
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ELIZABETH A. PRESTON DEAVERS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE