United States v. Vazquez

Full title: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff(s), v. LUIS PAGAN VAZQUEZ [16]…

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

Date published: Jul 14, 2014

Criminal No. 13-434 [16] (DRD) (D.P.R. Jul. 14, 2014)

Opinion

Criminal No. 13-434 [16] (DRD)

07-14-2014

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff(s), v. LUIS PAGAN VAZQUEZ [16], Defendant(s).

DANIEL R. DOMINGUEZ

ORDER APPROVING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION RE: RULE 11 PROCEEDINGS

The Court has evaluated the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation of the Rule 11 proceedings regarding defendant contained in the Report and Recommendation, Docket No. 579.

The principal consideration is whether that plea was knowingly, voluntary and intelligently made within the terms of Rule 11, United States v. Isom, 85 F.3d 831, 835-837 (1^st Cir.1996). In order to ascertain whether defendant made a knowingly, voluntary and intelligent plea, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has identified three core concerns: absence of coercion, defendant's understanding of the charges and the defendant's knowledge of the consequences of the guilty plea. United States v. Gray, 63 F.3d 60-61 (1^st Cir.1995), United States v. Cotal Crespo, 47 F.3d 1, 4 (1^st Cir.1995), cert. denied 516 U.S. 827 (1995).

The Court in examining the three core concerns must "review the totality of the circumstances surrounding the Rule 11 hearing, rather than apply a 'talismatic test,'" United States v. Cotal Crespo, 47 F.3d at 4-5.

The Court having examined the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge finds that the plea entered by the defendant was knowingly, voluntary and intelligent as understood in the terms of Rule 11. The plea of defendant is therefore, accepted and the defendant is adjudged guilty as to Count One of the Indictment.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 14th day of July, 2014.

DANIEL R. DOMINGUEZ

United States District Judge