Opinion
1:21-cr-466-1
05-27-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF, v. HASAN J. HOWARD, JR., DEFENDANT.
ORDER
HONORABLE SARA LIOI UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This matter is before the Court upon Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman, Jr. Report and Recommendation that the Court ACCEPT the plea of guilty of defendant Hasan J. Howard, Jr. and enter a finding of guilty against defendant. (Doc. No. 66.)
On June 10, 2021, the government filed an Indictment against defendant. (Doc. No. 10.) On March 4, 2022, this Court issued an order assigning this case to Magistrate Judge Baughman for the purpose of receiving defendant's guilty plea. (Doc. No. 60.)
On March 14, 2022, a hearing was held in which defendant entered a plea of guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1029(b)(2), Count 2 of the Indictment, charging him with Access Device Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1029(a)(2), and Count 6 of the Indictment, changing him with Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1028A(a)(1). Magistrate Judge Baughman received defendant's guilty plea and issued a Report and Recommendation ("R&R") recommending that this Court accept the plea and enter a finding of guilty. (Doc. No. 66.)
Neither party objected to the Magistrate Judge's R&R in the fourteen days after it was issued.
Upon de novo review of the record, the Magistrate Judge's R&R is ADOPTED. Specifically, the Court finds as follows: that the defendant is competent to enter a plea, that he understands his constitutional rights, that he is aware of the consequences of entering a plea, and that there is an adequate factual basis for the plea. The Court further finds that the plea was entered knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. Accordingly, the defendant's plea of guilty is APPROVED.
Therefore, the defendant is adjudged guilty of Counts 1, 2, and 6 of the Indictment. The sentencing will be held on July 6, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
IT IS SO ORDERED.