REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGE OF PLEA

JONATHAN GOODMAN, Magistrate Judge.

United States District Judge Jose E. Martinez referred to the Undersigned a change of plea hearing for the acceptance of the defendant's guilty plea. [ECF No. 113]. The Undersigned conducted a hearing and recommends the following to the District Court:

1. On December 21, 2015, the Undersigned convened a hearing to permit the defendant to enter a change of plea. The Undersigned advised the defendant of the right to have these proceedings conducted by the District Judge assigned to the case. Further, the Undersigned advised the defendant that the Undersigned was conducting the change of plea hearing on an Order of Reference from the District Court and with the agreement of the defendant, the defendant's attorney, and the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to this case. The Undersigned further advised the defendant that the District Judge assigned to this case would be the sentencing judge and would make all findings and rulings concerning the defendant's sentence and would conduct a sentencing hearing at a time set by the District Court.

2. The defendant, the defendant's attorney, and the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the case all agreed on the record to the Undersigned conducting the change of plea hearing.

3. The Undersigned conducted a plea colloquy in accordance with Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

4. There is a written plea agreement that has been entered into by the parties in this case. The Undersigned reviewed the plea agreement on the record and had the defendant acknowledge that the defendant signed the plea agreement. The Undersigned made certain that the defendant was aware of any minimum mandatory sentences and maximum sentences which could be imposed in this case pursuant to the plea agreement and the applicable statutes.

5. The defendant pled guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment. Count 1 charges the defendant with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine with persons who were on board a vessel that was subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of Title 46, Untied States Code, Sections 70503(a)(1) and 70506(b).

6. Through a written factual proffer signed by the defendant, the government stated a factual basis for the entry of the plea, which included all of the essential elements of the crime to which the defendant is pleading guilty, and any sentencing enhancements and/or aggravating factors that may be applicable. The defendant acknowledged the accuracy of the factual proffer and acknowledged his guilt and knowing participation in the alleged crime.

7. The Undersigned also discussed with the defendant that an adjudication of guilt could affect his immigration status including, but not limited to, being subject to deportation or denaturalization. The defendant understood and acknowledged that his guilty plea may have an effect on his immigration or naturalization status.

8. The Undersigned also discussed the defendant's waiver of his right to appeal his sentence under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3742 and Title 28, United States Code, Section 1291, as set out in the plea agreement. The defendant and the defendant's attorney stated that they had discussed this waiver and that the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights.

9. Based upon all of the foregoing and the plea colloquy conducted by the Undersigned, the Undersigned respectfully recommends that the District Court find that the defendant freely and voluntarily entered a guilty plea as to Count 1 of the Indictment, and that it adjudicate the defendant guilty as to Count 1 of the Indictment.

10. A pre-sentence investigation report is being prepared for the District Court by the United States Probation Office, and sentencing has been set for Friday, February 29, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, 400 North Miami Avenue, Courtroom 10-1, Miami, Florida.

ACCORDINGLY, the Undersigned respectfully recommends that the District Court accept the defendant's plea of guilty, adjudicate the defendant guilty of the offenses to which a plea of guilty has been entered, and conduct a sentencing hearing for final disposition of this matter.

The parties shall have 7 days from the date of this Report and Recommendations to serve and file written objections, if any, with the Honorable Jose E. Martinez, United States District Judge assigned to this case. Each party may file a response to the other party's objection within 3 days of the objection. Failure to file timely objections waives a party's right to review issues related to the defendant's plea under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 before the District Judge or the Court of Appeals (even under a plain error standard). See Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b)(1), (2), cited in United States v. Lewis, 492 F.3d 1219, 1222 (11th Cir. 2007) (en banc).

RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDED.