Opinion
Crim. Action 2:21-CR-16-4
01-04-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. BARBARA ANN THOMAS, Defendant.
ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLEA OF GUILTY IN FELONY CASE [DKT. NO. 83], ACCEPTING GUILTY PLEA, AND SCHEDULING SENTENCING HEARING
THOMAS S. KLEEH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
On December 1, 2021, the Defendant Barbara Ann Thomas (“Thomas”), appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Aloi and moved for permission to enter a plea of GUILTY to Count Eight of the Indictment, charging her with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). This Court referred Defendant's plea of guilty to the magistrate judge for the purpose of administering the allocution, pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, making a finding as to whether the plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered, and recommending to this Court whether the plea should be accepted. Thomas stated that she understood that the magistrate judge is not a United States District Judge, and Thomas consented to pleading before the magistrate judge.
Based upon Defendant Thomas's statements during the plea hearing and the Government's proffer establishing that an independent factual basis for the plea existed, the magistrate judge found that Defendant Thomas was competent to enter a plea, that the plea was freely and voluntarily given, that she was aware of the nature of the charges against her and the consequences of her plea, and that a factual basis existed for the tendered plea. The magistrate judge issued a Report and Recommendation Concerning Plea of Guilty in Felony Case (“R&R”) [Dkt. No. 83] finding a factual basis for the plea and recommending that this Court accept Defendant Thomas's plea of guilty to Count Eight of the Indictment.
The magistrate judge released Defendant on the terms of the Order Setting Conditions of Release.
The magistrate judge also directed the parties to file any written objections to the R&R within fourteen (14) days after service of the R&R. He further advised that failure to file objections would result in a waiver of the right to appeal from a judgment of this Court based on the R&R. Neither the Defendant nor the Government filed objections to the R&R.
Accordingly, this Court ADOPTS the magistrate judge's R&R [Dkt. No. 83], provisionally ACCEPTS Defendant Thomas's guilty plea, and ADJUDGES her GUILTY of the crime charged in Count Eight of the Indictment.
Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(3) and U.S.S.G. § 6B1.1(c), the Court DEFERS acceptance of the proposed plea agreement until it has received and reviewed the presentence investigation report prepared in this matter.
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 6A1 et seq., the Court ORDERS the following:
1. The Probation Officer shall undertake a presentence investigation of Thomas, and prepare a presentence investigation report for the Court;
2. The Government and Defendant Thomas shall each provide their narrative descriptions of the offense to the Probation Officer by January 11, 2022;
3. The presentence investigation report shall be disclosed to Defendant Thomas, counsel for Defendant, and the Government on or before February 24, 2022; however, the Probation Officer shall not disclose any sentencing recommendations made pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(3);
4. Counsel may file written objections to the presentence investigation report on or before March 10, 2022;
5. The Office of Probation shall submit the presentence investigation report with addendum to the Court on or before March 24, 2022; and
6. Counsel may file any written sentencing memorandum or statements and motions for departure from the Sentencing Guidelines, including the factual basis for the same, on or before April 1, 2022.
The Court further ORDERS that prior to sentencing, counsel for Defendant review with her the revised Standard Probation and Supervised Release Conditions adopted by this Court on November 29, 2016, pursuant to the standing order entered by Chief Judge Groh, In Re: Revised Standard Probation and Supervised Release Conditions, 3:16-MC-56.
The Court will conduct the Sentencing Hearing for Defendant on April 14, 2022, at 1:00 P.M., at the Elkins, West Virginia point of holding court. If counsel anticipates having multiple witnesses or an otherwise lengthy sentencing hearing, please notify the Judge's chamber staff so that an adequate amount of time can be scheduled.
It is so ORDERED.
The Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this Order to counsel of record and all appropriate agencies.