Reported / Citable
Background
Juan Guillermo Cardenas-Moreno was charged in Count One of an indictment with illegal reentry into the United States. The case was referred by general order to Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters to take the defendant’s felony guilty plea.
At an August 5, 2026 hearing, Cardenas-Moreno appeared with counsel and consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty to Count One without a plea agreement. Sentencing was reserved for Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
The Court’s Holding
Magistrate Judge Watters found that Cardenas-Moreno understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights, and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights. The court also found him competent, concluded that his plea was voluntary, and determined that a sufficient factual basis supported it.
The magistrate judge found Cardenas-Moreno guilty of the charge to which he pleaded and recommended that the district court accept the plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation did not itself impose sentence; the matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance after finding the Rule 11 requirements satisfied.
- The parties had 14 days to object to the findings and recommendation.
Why It Matters
The filing is a pre-sentencing guilty-plea recommendation, not a final sentencing decision. Unless objections alter the result, the district judge may accept the plea and proceed to sentencing.