MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

MARK E. FORD, Magistrate Judge.

Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3), Local Rule 72.1 ¶ XII, and General Order No. 40, this matter was referred to the undersigned for the purposes of conducting a plea hearing pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Such a hearing was conducted on November 9, 2017, and, pursuant to a written Plea Agreement, the Defendant entered a plea of guilty to Count Two of the Indictment. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, the Government will move to dismiss the remaining Counts of the Indictment once the Court has pronounced sentence.

After conducting the hearing in the form and manner prescribed by Rule 11, the undersigned finds:

1. The Defendant, after consultation with his counsel, has knowingly and voluntarily consented, both in writing and on the record at the hearing, to the entry of his guilty plea before the undersigned, with the plea being subject to final approval by Chief U. S. District Judge P. K. Holmes, III.

2. The Defendant and the Government have entered into a written Plea Agreement which has been disclosed in open court pursuant to Rule 11(c)(2), and the undersigned has directed that the Plea Agreement be filed.

3. The Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea; the Defendant is aware of the nature of the charges, the applicable maximum penalties, and the consequences of the plea; the Defendant is fully satisfied with his counsel and has had sufficient time to consult with him; and, the plea of guilty is a knowing and voluntary plea supported by an independent basis in fact containing each of the essential elements of the offense.

4. The Defendant understands his constitutional and statutory rights and wishes to waive these rights.

5. The parties were informed, both in writing and on the record at the hearing, of their right to file written objections within fourteen (14) days after receipt of this Report and Recommendation. To expedite acceptance of the guilty plea, the parties waived, both on the record and in writing, their right to file objections.

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that the guilty plea be accepted and that the written Plea Agreement be tentatively approved, subject to final approval at sentencing.