Reported / Citable
Background
The case was referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters under a general order for the taking of a felony guilty plea. On August 4, 2026, Rolando Portales-Zambrano appeared with counsel for a Rule 11 plea hearing.
Portales-Zambrano consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing remained assigned to the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Portales-Zambrano understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights, and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights. The magistrate judge also found him competent to plead guilty and concluded that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea.
The magistrate judge found Portales-Zambrano guilty of the charged count and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation advised the parties that objections were due within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 plea was knowing, voluntary, and supported by a factual basis.
- Acceptance of the plea and sentencing remained for the district judge.
Why It Matters
The order is a plea-stage recommendation, not a final sentencing decision. It clears the case for district-court review of the plea recommendation and subsequent sentencing proceedings.