Reported / Citable
Background
Pedro Mejia-Gonzalez was charged with illegal reentry into the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. The case was referred by general order to Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova to take the defendant’s felony guilty plea.
At a July 1, 2026 hearing, Mejia-Gonzalez appeared with counsel and consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. After advising him under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, the magistrate judge found that Mejia-Gonzalez understood the charge, penalties, and rights he was waiving.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Mejia-Gonzalez knowingly, freely, and voluntarily pleaded guilty to Count One without a plea agreement; that he was competent; and that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea. The magistrate judge also found him guilty of the charged offense and noted that he may be subject to restitution.
The court recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing. The recommendation was subject to objections within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- This was a report and recommendation, not a final district-court acceptance of the plea.
- The defendant pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 plea colloquy adequate and the plea supported by a factual basis.
Why It Matters
The order illustrates the use of magistrate judges, with a defendant’s consent, to conduct felony plea proceedings while leaving final acceptance and sentencing to the district judge. It also preserves the parties’ opportunity to object before the district court acts on the recommendation.