Reported / Citable
Background
Rakesh Barot waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for a felony guilty-plea proceeding and allocution under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
In a July 21, 2026 report and recommendation, the magistrate judge recommended that the district court accept Barot’s guilty plea. Barot did not oppose the recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman accepted Barot’s guilty plea to Count 1 of the indictment.
The one-page order did not address sentencing or describe the charge or underlying facts. It resolved only whether to accept the guilty plea recommended by the magistrate judge.
Key Takeaways
- The district court accepted Barot’s guilty plea to Count 1.
- The plea proceeding was conducted by Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower under Rule 11.
- Barot did not oppose the magistrate judge’s recommendation that the plea be accepted.
Why It Matters
The order formally accepts Barot’s guilty plea and advances the criminal case beyond the plea stage. Because the order does not address punishment, sentencing remains outside its scope.