Reported / Citable
Background
The district court referred Weldon Greer, Jr.’s guilty-plea proceeding to U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson for administration under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. After conducting the required hearing, Judge Stetson issued findings of fact and recommended that the court accept Greer’s plea and adjudge him guilty on Count One of the indictment.
Neither party objected to the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation. Count One charged Greer with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349.
The Court’s Holding
U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone adopted the magistrate judge’s findings of fact and recommendation. The court accepted Greer’s guilty plea and adjudged him guilty on Count One.
The court did not yet accept the plea agreement. It deferred that decision until after reviewing the presentence report.
Key Takeaways
- The court adopted the unopposed findings and recommendation arising from Greer’s Rule 11 plea hearing.
- Greer was adjudged guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1349.
- Acceptance of the guilty plea did not resolve acceptance of the plea agreement, which remains deferred pending review of the presentence report.
Why It Matters
The order distinguishes between accepting a defendant’s guilty plea and accepting the associated plea agreement. Although Greer has been adjudged guilty on Count One, the court reserved its decision on the agreement until it can evaluate the presentence report.