Reported / Citable
Background
Wilfredo Ruiz-Ruiz appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters on July 7, 2026, for the taking of a felony guilty plea. The case had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order.
Ruiz-Ruiz consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. After Rule 11 admonishments, he pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing was reserved for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Ruiz-Ruiz understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; that he voluntarily waived those rights; and that he was competent to plead guilty. The court also found that the plea was free and voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Ruiz-Ruiz guilty of the offense to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation remained subject to objections within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- Ruiz-Ruiz pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 plea requirements were satisfied.
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance of the plea; the district judge would conduct sentencing.
Why It Matters
The filing illustrates the magistrate-judge plea process in a federal felony case: with the defendant’s consent, a magistrate judge may conduct the plea hearing and issue findings and a recommendation, while the district judge retains responsibility for accepting the recommendation and imposing sentence.