REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

MARK A. ROBERTS, Magistrate Judge.

On March 11, 2019, the above-named Defendant appeared before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge by consent and, pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment, Acquiring and Attempting to Acquire a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sections 843(a)(3) and 846; Count 10 of the Indictment, Wrongfully Obtaining Individually Identifiable Health Information Relating to an Individual Under False Pretenses and With Intent to Use for Personal Gain, in violation of 42 U.S.C. Sections 1320d-6(a)(2),(b)(2), (b)(3) and 18 U.S.C. Section 2(b); and Count 16 of the Indictment, False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1035. After cautioning and examining Defendant under oath concerning each of the subjects mentioned in Rule 11, I determined that Defendant's decision to plead guilty was knowledgeable and voluntary, and each of the offenses charged was supported by an independent basis in fact containing each of the essential elements of the offense. I therefore RECOMMEND that the Court ACCEPT Defendant's guilty pleas and adjudge Defendant guilty.

At the commencement of the Rule 11 proceeding, I placed the Defendant under oath. I explained that if Defendant answered any question falsely, the Government could prosecute Defendant for perjury or for making a false statement. I also advised Defendant that in any such prosecution, the Government could use against Defendant any statements made under oath.

I then asked Defendant a number of questions to ensure Defendant had the requisite mental capacity to enter a plea. I elicited Defendant's full name, age, and extent of education. I also inquired into Defendant's history of mental illness; use of illegal and/or prescription drugs; and use of alcohol. From this inquiry, I determined Defendant was not suffering from any mental disability that would impair Defendant's ability to make a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary guilty plea.

Defendant acknowledged receipt of a copy of the Indictment and further acknowledged that Defendant had fully discussed the Indictment with Defendant's counsel. Defendant acknowledged that Defendant had fully conferred with Defendant's counsel prior to deciding to plead guilty and that Defendant was satisfied with counsel's services.

I fully advised Defendant of all of the rights Defendant would be giving up if Defendant decided to plead guilty, including the following:

I explained that if Defendant pleaded guilty, Defendant would be giving up all of these rights, there would be no trial, and Defendant would be adjudged guilty just as if Defendant had gone to trial and a jury returned a guilty verdict against Defendant.

• Plea Agreement

I determined that Defendant was pleading guilty pursuant to the Revised Memorandum of a Proposed Plea Agreement between the United States Attorney's Office and Defendant ("the plea agreement"). After confirming that a copy of the written plea agreement was in front of Defendant and Defendant's counsel, I determined that Defendant understood the terms of the plea agreement. I summarized the plea agreement, and made certain Defendant understood its terms.

• Dismissal of Charges

I explained that the plea agreement provides for dismissal of all remaining counts and that a district judge will decide whether or not to accept the plea agreement. If the district judge decides to reject the plea agreement, then Defendant will have an opportunity to withdraw the guilty plea and instead plead not guilty.

• Elements of Charges and Factual Basis

I summarized the charges against Defendant and listed the elements of the crimes charged. I determined that Defendant understood each and every element of the crimes, and Defendant's counsel confirmed that Defendant understood each and every element of the crimes charged. For the offenses to which Defendant was pleading guilty, I elicited a full and complete factual basis for all elements of the crimes charged in the Indictment. Defendant's attorney indicated that the offenses to which Defendant was pleading guilty were factually supported.

• Sentencing

I explained to Defendant that the district judge will determine the appropriate sentence at the sentencing hearing. I explained that the Court will use the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines to calculate Defendant's sentence. I explained that the sentence imposed might be different from what the advisory guidelines suggest it should be and may be different from what Defendant's attorney had estimated.

I explained that a probation officer will prepare a written pre-sentence investigation report and that Defendant and Defendant's counsel will have an opportunity to read the pre-sentence report before the sentencing hearing and will have the opportunity to object to the contents of the report. I further explained that Defendant and Defendant's counsel will be afforded the opportunity to present evidence and be heard at the sentencing hearing.

I advised Defendant of the consequences of the guilty plea, including the maximum term of imprisonment, the maximum term of supervised release, and the maximum fine. Specifically, I advised Defendant that Count 2 of the Indictment is punishable by a sentence of not more than 4 years in prison without the possibility of parole; a period of supervised release following prison of not more than 1 year; and a fine of up to $250,000.

I also advised Defendant that Count 10 of the Indictment is punishable by a sentence of not more than 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole; a period of supervised release following prison of not more than 3 years; and a fine of up to $250,000.

I further advised Defendant that Count 16 of the Indictment is punishable by a sentence of not more than 5 years in prison without the possibility of parole; a period of supervised release following prison of not more than 3 years; and a fine of up to $250,000.

I advised Defendant that regardless of the sentence imposed, there is no parole in the federal system. I also advised Defendant that Defendant must pay restitution as detailed in Paragraph 20 of her plea agreement and may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution as detailed in Paragraph 21 of the plea agreement.

I explained that the Court will impose conditions of supervised release, and that if Defendant violates a condition of supervised release, then the Court could revoke Defendant's supervised release and require Defendant to serve all or part of the term of supervised release in prison, without credit for time previously served on supervised release. I advised Defendant that regardless of the sentence imposed, there would be no possibility of parole. I also advised Defendant that the Court will impose a mandatory special assessment of $100.00 for each count, which Defendant must pay. I advised Defendant of the collateral consequences of pleading guilty. Defendant acknowledged understanding all of the above consequences.

• Forfeiture

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(b)(1), I found that the Government had established the requisite nexus between Defendant's offense and the items described in the Indictment's forfeiture allegation, specifically Defendant's occupational therapist license. I recommend the Court enter a preliminary forfeiture order pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(b)(2).

I found by clear and convincing evidence that Defendant is not likely to flee or to pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community. Therefore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Sections 3143(a) and 3142(c), Defendant was released pursuant to the terms of her existing bond, and Defendant shall appear in Court on March 26, 2019 upon completion of her treatment program.

I also explained that both the Government and Defendant have the right to appeal Defendant's sentence.

Defendant confirmed that the decision to plead guilty was voluntary; was not the result of any promises; and the decision to plead guilty was not the result of anyone threatening, forcing, or pressuring Defendant to plead guilty. I explained that after the district judge accepted Defendant's guilty plea, Defendant would have no right to withdraw the plea at a later date, even if the sentence imposed was different from what Defendant anticipated.

Defendant confirmed that Defendant still wished to plead guilty, and Defendant pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 10, and 16 of the Indictment.

I find the following with respect to the guilty plea:

I explained that the Parties have fourteen (14) days from the filing of this Report and Recommendation to file any objections to my findings, and that if no objections are made, then the district judge may accept Defendant's guilty plea by simply entering a written order doing so. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b). But see, United States v. Cortez-Hernandez, 673 Fed. App'x 587, 590-91 (8th Cir. 2016) (per curiam) (suggesting that a defendant may have the right to de novo review of a magistrate judge's recommendation to accept a plea of guilty even if no objection is filed). The district court judge will undertake a de novo review of the Report and Recommendation if a written request for such review is filed within fourteen (14) days after this report and recommendation is filed.