Reported / Citable
Background
Taylor Mackenzie Lambert pleaded guilty to Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment in a federal criminal case in the Eastern District of Texas. The count charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.
The district court referred the guilty-plea proceeding to a United States magistrate judge under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. After conducting the Rule 11 hearing, the magistrate judge issued findings of fact and recommended that the court accept Lambert’s plea and adjudge Lambert guilty. Neither party objected.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Amos L. Mazzant adopted the magistrate judge’s findings of fact and recommendation on Lambert’s guilty plea. The court accepted Lambert’s plea and found Lambert guilty of Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment.
The court deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until it reviews the presentence report. Thus, the order resolved acceptance of the guilty plea and guilt on the charged count, but left the plea agreement for later consideration.
Key Takeaways
- The court adopted an unopposed magistrate judge’s recommendation following a Rule 11 guilty-plea hearing.
- Lambert was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl under 21 U.S.C. § 846.
- The court accepted the plea while deferring a decision on the plea agreement pending review of the presentence report.
Why It Matters
The order illustrates the separate treatment of a defendant’s guilty plea and the associated plea agreement. A district court may accept a guilty plea and adjudicate guilt while reserving judgment on the plea agreement until sentencing-related information is available.