Reported / Citable
Background
The case was referred by general order to U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova to take Ana Michelle Jeronimo Torres’s felony guilty plea. Torres appeared with counsel on August 24, 2026, consented to having the magistrate judge take her plea, and acknowledged that the presiding district judge would conduct sentencing.
After being advised of her rights and receiving the admonishments required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, Torres pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment. That count charged her with making a false statement or representation to a federal agency or department in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Torres understood the charge, potential penalties, and her constitutional and statutory rights; knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; and entered her plea freely and voluntarily. The judge also found Torres competent to plead guilty and determined that the plea had a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Torres guilty of the charge to which she pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation also noted that Torres may be subject to restitution and referred the case to the presiding district judge for sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- Torres pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to making a false statement or representation to a federal agency or department under 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).
- The magistrate judge found that the plea satisfied Rule 11, was knowing and voluntary, and rested on a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation is subject to objections within 14 days; sentencing remains before the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The filing records the magistrate judge’s Rule 11 findings and recommendation rather than a final sentencing decision. It supports acceptance of Torres’s guilty plea and entry of judgment, while leaving sentencing—and the district judge’s review of any timely objections—for later proceedings.