REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

CHRISTOOHER H. STEGER, Magistrate Judge.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge conducted a plea hearing in this case on December 18, 2019. At the hearing, Defendant entered a plea of guilty to Counts One and Three of the three count Indictment. On the basis of the record made at the hearing, the Court finds that Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea; the plea is made knowingly and with full understanding of each of the rights waived by Defendant; it is made voluntarily and free from any force, threats, or promises; Defendant understands the nature of the charges and penalties provided by law; and the plea has a sufficient basis in fact. Acceptance of the plea, adjudication of guilt, acceptance of the Plea Agreement, and imposition of sentence are specifically reserved for the United States District Judge.

I therefore recommend that the Court: (1) grant Defendant's motion to withdraw his not guilty plea to Counts One and Three of the three count Indictment; (2) accept Defendant's guilty plea to Counts One and Three of the three count Indictment; (3) adjudicate Defendant guilty of Count One—distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and Count Three—possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime for which Defendant may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and (4) order that Defendant remain in custody pending sentencing or further order of this Court.

The Defendant's sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable District Judge Curtis L. Collier on May 20, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.