Reported / Citable
Background
Jassiel De jesus Ortiz-Ramirez was charged in Count One of the indictment with illegal reentry into the United States. The case was referred by general order to a U.S. magistrate judge to conduct the felony guilty-plea proceeding.
Ortiz-Ramirez and his counsel appeared before the magistrate judge on July 7, 2026. After being advised that a district judge could take his plea and receiving the admonishments required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, Ortiz-Ramirez consented to the magistrate judge’s handling of the plea and pleaded guilty without a plea agreement.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Ortiz-Ramirez understood the charge, potential penalties, and the constitutional and statutory rights he was waiving. The judge also found that Ortiz-Ramirez was competent, that his plea was knowing and voluntary, and that a sufficient factual basis supported it.
Based on those findings, the magistrate judge recommended that the district judge accept Ortiz-Ramirez’s guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were given 14 days to object to the findings and recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Ortiz-Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found that the Rule 11 requirements were satisfied and that the plea had a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation does not impose a sentence; sentencing remains for the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The findings document the procedural safeguards supporting Ortiz-Ramirez’s guilty plea and provide the basis for the district judge to accept it and enter judgment. Any party seeking de novo review must timely object to the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation.