Reported / Citable
Background
Raunel Soto-Alviter waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane to enter a felony guilty plea and complete the plea colloquy required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On August 20, 2026, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation advising the district court to accept Soto-Alviter’s guilty plea. Soto-Alviter did not oppose that recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra accepted Soto-Alviter’s guilty plea to Count One of the Information.
The one-page order noted the magistrate judge’s recommendation and the absence of any opposition from Soto-Alviter. It did not address sentencing or disclose the offense charged in Count One.
Key Takeaways
- The district court accepted Soto-Alviter’s guilty plea to Count One of the Information.
- A magistrate judge conducted the felony plea proceeding and Rule 11 colloquy after Soto-Alviter waived appearance before the district judge.
- Soto-Alviter did not oppose the magistrate judge’s recommendation that the plea be accepted.
Why It Matters
The order completes the district court’s review and acceptance of the guilty plea following proceedings before the magistrate judge. Its scope is limited: it resolves acceptance of the plea but does not decide sentencing or provide substantive analysis of the underlying charge.