Opinion
CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 2:14-CR-00284-1
05-29-2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EDGARDO LOPEZ-NUNEZ
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
ON PLEA OF GUILTY
United States District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos referred this case to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for the purpose of conducting a guilty plea proceeding pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The undersigned submits these Findings and Recommendation to the District Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(3). All parties have waived the right to plead before a United States District Judge, and additionally, have consented to proceed before the undersigned.
See Special Orders C-2013-2, C-2013-3, C-2013-4, C-2013-5, V-2013-1, and V-2013-2.
On May 29, 2014, the Defendant appeared with counsel before the undersigned magistrate judge and was personally addressed in open court and admonished pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure as follows:
1. The Defendant was placed under oath and advised that any false answers given during the plea proceeding could be used by the United States against the Defendant in a prosecution for perjury or for making a false statement;
2. The Defendant was advised that the indictment charged a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326, which makes it unlawful for any person who, as an alien, has been previously deported or removed from the United States, to thereafter be knowingly and unlawfully present in the United States, having been found in the Southern District of Texas without first obtaining consent from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States;
3. The Defendant was advised of the Defendant's right to a jury trial, the right to the presumption of innocence, the right to require that the United States prove each of the elements of the offense to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, that is the United States must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) the Defendant is an alien to the United States; (2) the Defendant was previously deported from the United States; (3) that the Defendant was knowingly and unlawfully present in the United States, having been found in the Southern District of Texas; (4) after being deported but before re-entering the United States, the Defendant failed to obtain consent to re-enter this country; the Defendant was further advised that the right to a jury trial included the right to see, hear and cross-examine witnesses, the right to compel witnesses to appear in the Defendant's behalf, and the right to testify in the Defendant's behalf or to remain silent;
4. The Defendant was advised that a plea of guilty would waive the right to a jury trial, the right to see, hear and cross examine witnesses, the right to compel witnesses to appear in the Defendant's behalf, and the right to remain silent;
5. The Defendant was advised that the maximum possible prison term depended upon the Defendant's history of criminal convictions: (1) the standard maximum prison term was up to two years; but (2) if, prior to deportation, the Defendant had been convicted of three or more misdemeanors involving drugs or crimes against the person or convicted of any felony offense, the maximum prison term would increase to ten years; and finally (3) if, prior to deportation, the Defendant had been convicted of an aggravated felony, the maximum possible prison term would increase to twenty years; the Defendant was further advised that he could be required to serve a term of supervised release of up to three years following any prison term and upon violation of supervised release, the Defendant could be required to serve up to two more years in prison; the Defendant was further advised that even if the maximum term for violation of supervised release were to be imposed, that the Defendant could be re-released to supervised release and if revoked again, could receive the maximum again; the Defendant was advised supervised release could be imposed and revoked multiple times until completing the term; the Defendant was also advised that a fine of $250,000 could be imposed in addition to the prison and supervised release terms, and a mandatory $100 special assessment applied to any conviction;
6. The Defendant was advised of the District Court's obligation to calculate the applicable advisory sentencing guideline range and to consider that advisory range, possible departures and variances under the Sentencing Guidelines, and other sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a); the Defendant stated that he understood and had discussed with his attorney how the guidelines might be calculated in his case and applied to him;
7. The Defendant was advised that if convicted of this offense, he may be removed from the United States, denied citizenship, and denied admission to the United States in the future. The Defendant stated he understood and had discussed this matter with his attorney; and
8. The Defendant was advised that his written plea agreement with the United States included a promise that the United States would recommend maximum credit for acceptance of responsibility and a sentence of imprisonment within the applicable guideline range as decided by the District Court; further, if the Defendant provided substantial assistance, the United States may move for a downward departure for substantial assistance pursuant to U.S.S.G. §5K1; the Defendant was advised that the decision about whether to move for a downward departure was a decision solely in the discretion of the attorney for the United States, and the decision whether to grant such a motion rested with the sentencing judge;
The Defendant was further advised that the plea agreement contained a waiver of his right to appeal and to file any petitions collaterally challenging his conviction; the Defendant stated that he had discussed the appeal waiver with his attorney and he understood that he was knowingly waiving his right to appeal the conviction and sentencing decision of the District Court to a higher court unless the District Court sua sponte departed upward from the applicable guideline range or imposed a sentence that exceeded the maximum sentence, and that he was knowingly waiving his right to file a petition collaterally challenging his conviction; finally, the Defendant admitted that he understood he was also waiving his right to challenge an upward variance in his sentence.
The Defendant stated that he had received a copy of the Indictment and he understood the nature of the charge, the maximum possible penalty, and the consequences of pleading guilty. The Defendant further stated that the plea of guilty was made freely and voluntarily, and did not result from any force, threats or coercion, and no one had promised the Defendant a certain sentence. The Defendant stated that he understood that if he did not receive the sentence hoped for, he could not withdraw his plea of guilty. The undersigned finds the Defendant to be sufficiently competent to enter a plea of guilty.
The Defendant pleaded guilty to the offense of being an alien unlawfully found in the United States after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) as alleged in Count One of the Indictment. When questioned about the guilty plea, the Defendant admitted that he is a citizen of Honduras, that he was last deported or removed from the United States on June 20, 2013, that on March 26, 2014, the Defendant was knowingly and unlawfully present in the United States having been found in Brooks County, Texas, without first obtaining consent from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States. He admitted he had no lawful right to be present in the United States.
The undersigned United States Magistrate Judge finds that Defendant's guilty plea was freely and voluntarily tendered and did not result from force, threats, or promises and that an adequate factual basis exists in relation to this plea.
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the District Court adopt the foregoing findings, accept the Defendant's plea of guilty, and find that the Defendant is guilty as charged in the indictment.
Respectfully submitted this 29th day of May, 2014.
__________
B. JANICE ELLINGTON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
NOTICE TO PARTIES
The Clerk will file the Findings and Recommendation on Plea of Guilty and transmit a copy to each party or counsel. Within FOURTEEN (14) DAYS after being served with a copy of the Memorandum and Recommendation, a party may file with the Clerk and serve on the United States Magistrate Judge and all parties, written objections, pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b), 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), and General Order No. 2002-13, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
A party's failure to file written objections to the proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation in a magistrate judge's report and recommendation within FOURTEEN (14) DAYS after being served with a copy shall bar that party, except upon grounds of plain error, from attacking on appeal the unobjected-to proposed factual findings and legal conclusions accepted by the district court. Douglass v. United Servs. Auto Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc).