Reported / Citable
Background
Obed Omar Carrillo-Quinones entered a guilty plea in a federal criminal case in the Eastern District of Texas. The district court referred the plea proceeding to a United States magistrate judge for administration under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
After conducting the Rule 11 hearing, the magistrate judge issued findings of fact and a recommendation that the court accept Carrillo-Quinones’s plea and adjudge him guilty on Count One of the indictment. Neither party objected to those findings.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Amos L. Mazzant adopted the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation and accepted Carrillo-Quinones’s guilty plea. The court found him guilty on Count One, which charged conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.
The court deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until it reviews the presentence report. The order therefore adjudicated guilt based on the plea but did not resolve whether the court would accept the parties’ plea agreement.
Key Takeaways
- The court adopted an unopposed magistrate judge recommendation following a Rule 11 guilty-plea proceeding.
- Carrillo-Quinones was found guilty of cocaine-distribution conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846.
- Acceptance of the plea agreement was deferred pending review of the presentence report.
Why It Matters
The order illustrates the distinction between accepting a defendant’s guilty plea and accepting a plea agreement. Although the court adjudicated Carrillo-Quinones guilty, it reserved its decision on the agreement until sentencing-related review is complete.