Reported / Citable
Background
Neptaly Reyes-Reyes, also known as Neptali Reyes-Reyes, appeared with counsel before Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters on August 5, 2026, for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The case had been referred by general order for the magistrate judge to take the plea.
After being advised of his right to have the plea taken by a district judge and receiving the required Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 admonishments, Reyes-Reyes pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment: illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Reyes-Reyes consented to the magistrate judge’s taking of his plea; understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; and voluntarily waived those rights. The magistrate judge also found Reyes-Reyes competent and concluded that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea.
The magistrate judge found Reyes-Reyes guilty of the charged offense and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing remains for the presiding district judge.
Key Takeaways
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance of Reyes-Reyes’s guilty plea to illegal reentry.
- The plea was entered without a plea agreement.
- Any objections to the findings and recommendation must be filed within 14 days.
Why It Matters
The filing is a recommendation, not the district court’s final acceptance of the plea or sentencing decision. Unless timely objections alter the outcome, the case will proceed to the district judge for acceptance of the plea and sentencing.