Reported / Citable
Background
Gerardo Alfonso Gomez-Romero appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters on August 5, 2026, for entry of a felony guilty plea. The matter had been referred under a general order for the taking of the plea.
After Rule 11 admonishments, Gomez-Romero consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Gomez-Romero understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; and was competent to plead guilty. The court also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea.
Judge Watters found Gomez-Romero guilty of the offense to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing remains for the presiding district judge.
Key Takeaways
- The recommendation concerns acceptance of a guilty plea, not final sentencing.
- Gomez-Romero pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- Parties have 14 days to object; failure to object limits later review as stated in the recommendation.
Why It Matters
The filing clears the case for the district judge to decide whether to accept the recommended plea disposition and to impose sentence. It also preserves the parties’ opportunity to seek district-court review of the magistrate judge’s proposed findings through timely objections.