Reported / Citable
Background
The district court referred the administration of Michael Alexander Rodriguez’s guilty plea to U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
After conducting the Rule 11 hearing, the magistrate judge issued findings and a recommendation concerning the guilty plea. Neither party objected to those findings.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle adopted the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation and accepted Rodriguez’s guilty plea. The court deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until it reviews the presentence report.
Consistent with the guilty plea, the court adjudged Rodriguez guilty of Counts Two, Three, and Four of the superseding indictment: possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and conspiracy involving cocaine distribution or possession with intent to distribute.
Key Takeaways
- The court adopted the unopposed Rule 11 findings and recommendation.
- Rodriguez was found guilty on Counts Two, Three, and Four of the superseding indictment.
- The plea agreement remains subject to review of the presentence report.
Why It Matters
The order completes the plea-adjudication stage for the three listed offenses while reserving the court’s decision on whether to accept the parties’ plea agreement. Sentencing-related review will follow consideration of the presentence report.