Reported / Citable
Background
Rigoberto Villa-Gamino appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The matter had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order for the taking of a felony guilty plea.
After advising Villa-Gamino of his right to have the plea taken by a district judge and conducting Rule 11 admonishments, the magistrate judge accepted his consent to proceed. Villa-Gamino pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Villa-Gamino understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; and was competent to plead guilty. The court also found that the plea was knowing, free, and voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Villa-Gamino guilty of the count to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The case was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were notified of a 14-day period to object to the recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Villa-Gamino pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 requirements satisfied and a sufficient factual basis for the plea.
- The document is a recommendation to the district judge, not a final district-court acceptance or sentencing decision.
Why It Matters
The recommendation preserves the distinction between a magistrate judge’s plea findings and the district judge’s ultimate acceptance of the plea and sentencing decision. Absent timely objections, the parties risk limited review of unobjected-to findings and conclusions.