FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLEA

JEREMIAH C. LYNCH, Magistrate Judge.

The Defendant, by consent, has appeared before me under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 and has entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) as set forth in Count I of the Indictment, and one count of the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) as set forth Count III of the Indictment. Defendant further agrees to the forfeiture allegation in the Indictment. In exchange for Defendant's pleas, the United States has agreed to dismiss Counts II and IV of the Indictment.

After examining the Defendant under oath, I have made the following determinations:

1. That the Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering informed and voluntary pleas to the criminal offenses charged against him, and an informed and voluntary admission to the allegation of forfeiture;

2. That the Defendant is aware of the nature of the charges against him and the consequences of pleading guilty to the charges;

3. That the Defendant understands the allegation of forfeiture and the consequences of admitting to the allegation;

4. That the Defendant fully understands his constitutional rights, and the extent to which he is waiving those rights by pleading guilty to the criminal offenses charged against him, and admitting to the allegation of forfeiture;

5. That both his guilty pleas to the criminal offenses charged against him and his admission to the allegation of forfeiture are knowingly and voluntarily entered, and are both supported by independent factual grounds sufficient to prove each of the essential elements of the criminal offenses charged and the legal basis for the forfeiture.

The Court further concludes that the Defendant had adequate time to review the Plea Agreement with counsel, that he fully understands each and every provision of the agreement and that all of the statements in the Plea Agreement are true. Therefore, I recommend that the Defendant be adjudged guilty of Counts I and III of the Indictment, that the agreed forfeiture be imposed against Defendant, and that sentence be imposed. I further recommend that Counts II and IV of the Indictment be dismissed.

This report is forwarded with the recommendation that the Court defer a decision regarding acceptance until the Court has reviewed the Plea Agreement and the presentence report.