REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON DEFENDANT'S CHANGE OF PLEA

DAVID E. JONES, Magistrate Judge.

The United States of America and the defendant, Brenda Fontanez-Masso, appeared before me on June 15, 2017, for a change of plea colloquy pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. See Court Minutes for Change of Plea Hearing, ECF No. 359. An interpreter was used to ensure Ms. Fontanez-Masso understood and could actively participate in the colloquy. Ms. Fontanez-Masso, who was represented by counsel at the hearing, consented to my conducting the change of plea colloquy. I explained that it would be for United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller alone, not me, to enter the plea and that my role was to conduct the plea colloquy and then to prepare a report and recommendation for ultimate disposition by Judge Stadtmueller.

After Ms. Fontanez-Masso was placed under oath and advised as to the implications of being untruthful, I questioned her about her competency to go forward with the hearing. Through her responses, I found that Ms. Fontanez-Masso was lucid, intelligent, and not under the influence of any intoxicants or substances.

I then discussed in detail each of the subjects specified in Rule 11, including the rights Ms. Fontanez-Masso would surrender by entering a plea of guilty, the maximum penalties associated with the charged offense, and the authority of the sentencing judge to disregard any recommendations in the Amended Plea Agreement, ECF No. 355, and to sentence Ms. Fontanez-Masso at the statutory maximums. Ms. Fontanez-Masso fully understood the rights she was surrendering and the implications of pleading guilty. Ms. Fontanez-Masso waived her right to prosecution by indictment and consented to prosecution by information. See Waiver of an Indictment, ECF No. 360. Ms. Fontanez-Masso also was satisfied that she had received effective assistance of counsel.

At the conclusion of this colloquy, I determined that the guilty plea was knowing and voluntary and was not induced by threats or by promises not contained in the Plea Agreement. I found that there was an independent factual basis containing each of the essential elements of the sole count charged in the Information, ECF No. 289, to which Ms. Fontanez-Masso was pleading guilty. Ms. Fontanez-Masso advised that she was pleading guilty to the charged offense because she was, in fact, guilty and that the United States could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was guilty of the charged offense. Finally, I found that, in responding to my questions, Ms. Fontanez-Masso was candid, respectful, and non-evasive, fully accepting responsibility for and acknowledging the unlawfulness of her conduct.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that defendant Brenda Fontanez-Masso's plea of guilty be accepted; that a presentence investigation and report be prepared according to the schedule set by the Court; and that Ms. Fontanez-Masso be adjudicated guilty and have sentence imposed accordingly.

Your attention is directed to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C), Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b), and E.D. Wis. Gen. L. R. 72(c), whereby written objections to any recommendation herein, or part thereof, may be filed within fourteen days of service of this Recommendation. Objections are to be filed in accordance with the Eastern District of Wisconsin's electronic case filing procedures. Failure to file a timely objection with the District Judge shall result in a waiver of your right to appeal. If no response or reply will be filed, please notify the Court in writing.