Reported / Citable
Background
Jonathan Uriel Flores-Olvera was charged with illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. The case was referred to a magistrate judge to take his felony guilty plea.
On July 2, 2026, Flores-Olvera appeared with counsel and consented to having the magistrate judge conduct the plea proceeding. After receiving the required Rule 11 admonishments, he pleaded guilty to Count One without a plea agreement.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Flores-Olvera understood the charge, potential penalties, and the constitutional and statutory rights he was waiving. The judge also found that Flores-Olvera was competent, entered the plea freely and voluntarily, and acknowledged that he could be subject to restitution.
Finding a sufficient factual basis for the plea, the magistrate judge recommended that the district judge accept it and enter a judgment of guilt. The case was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing; the document itself was a recommendation rather than the district judge’s final acceptance of the plea.
Key Takeaways
- Flores-Olvera pleaded guilty to illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326 without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the plea knowing, voluntary, factually supported, and entered by a competent defendant.
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance of the plea, while sentencing remained for the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The recommendation records the magistrate judge’s findings that the guilty plea satisfied Rule 11’s procedural safeguards. It also preserves the distinction between taking the plea and recommending its acceptance, on the one hand, and the district judge’s later action and sentencing, on the other.