Opinion
22-10011-CR-MOORE/SNOW
10-07-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC., Defendant.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON CHANGE OF PLEA
LURANA S. SNOW UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
THIS CAUSE having come on to be heard upon the Order of Reference (ECF No. 10) from United States District Judge K. Michael Moore to the undersigned, to conduct a proceeding for acceptance of a guilty plea by Defendant, ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC. in the above referenced case. The undersigned, having conducted a Change of Plea hearing on October 6, 2022, recommends to the District Court as follows:
1. On October 6, 2022, the undersigned convened a hearing to permit Defendant, ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC., to enter a change of plea in the aforementioned matter. At the outset of the hearing, the undersigned advised the Defendant of its right to have these proceedings conducted by the District Judge assigned to the case. Further, the Defendant was advised that the Change of Plea hearing was being conducted on an Order of Reference from the District Judge, at the request of the Defendant, the Defendant's attorney and the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to this case. The undersigned further advised the Defendant that the District Judge assigned to this case would be the sentencing judge and would make all findings and rulings concerning the Defendant's sentence.
2. The Defendant was advised that it did not have to permit the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge to conduct this hearing and could request that the Change of Plea hearing be conducted only by a United States District Judge. The Defendant, the Defendant's attorney and the Assistant United. States Attorney assigned to the case all agreed on the record and consented to this Court conducting the Change of Plea hearing.
3. The undersigned conducted a plea colloquy in accordance with the outline set forth in the Bench Book for District Judges.
4. There is a written Plea Agreement which had been entered into by the parties in this case. The undersigned reviewed the Plea Agreement on the record and had the Defendant acknowledge that it signed the Plea Agreement. This Court also made certain that the Defendant was aware of any minimum mandatory sentences and the maximum sentences which could be imposed in this case pursuant to the Plea Agreement and the applicable statutes. The Defendant acknowledged that it understood these possible maximum penalties which could be imposed in its case.
5. Defendant, ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC. pled guilty to the two counts of the Information, which charge it with false labeling of spiny lobsters and .; shark fins that were intended to be exported, in violation of 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(d) and 3373(d)(3)(A) (I).
6. The Plea Agreement contains a waiver of appeal. The undersigned read the waiver of appeal word for word to the Defendant on the record and questioned the Defendant thereafter. The Defendant acknowledged on the record in response to the undersigned's questions that by entering into the Plea Agreement containing the appeal waiver, that it was waiving or giving up all rights to appeal any sentence imposed by the District Court in this case, except under the limited circumstances contained within the appeal waiver provision read to the Defendant from the Plea Agreement.
7. The Government stated a factual basis for the entry of the plea which included all of the essential elements of the crimes to which the Defendant is pleading guilty and any sentencing enhancements and/or aggravating factors that may be applicable.
8. Based on all of the foregoing and the plea colloquy, the undersigned: recommends to the District Judge that Defendant, ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC. be found to have freely and voluntarily entered its guilty plea to Counts 1 and 2 of the Information as more particularly described herein and that it be adjudged guilty of those offenses.
9. A Presentence Investigation Report is being prepared for the District J Court by the United States Probation Office. Sentencing will be set before the Honorable K. Michael Moore, United States District Judge, 301 Simonton Street, 1st Floor Courtroom, Key West, Florida 33040.
Accordingly, the undersigned RECOMMENDS that Defendant, ELITE SKY INTERNATIONAL, INC.'S plea of guilty be accepted, the Defendant be adjudged guilty of the offense to which it has entered his plea of guilty and that a sentencing hearing be conducted for final disposition of this matter.
The parties will have fourteen (14) days from the date of being served with a copy of this Report and Recommendation within which to file written objections, if any, with the Honorable K. Michael Moore, United States District Judge. Failure to file objections timely shall bar the parties from a de novo determination by the District Judge of an issue covered in the Report and shall bar the parties from attacking on appeal unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions contained therein, except upon grounds of plain error if necessary in the interest of justice. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Thomas v, Arn, 474 U.S. 140,149 (1985); Henley v. Johnson, 885 F.2d 790, 794 (1989); 11th Cir. R. 3-1 (2016).
DONE AND SUBMITTED