ZACK HAWTHORN, Magistrate Judge.
By order of the District Court, this matter is referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for administration of the guilty plea under Rule 11. Magistrate judges have the statutory authority to conduct a felony guilty plea proceeding as an "additional duty" pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(3).
On December 10, 2014, this case came before the undersigned magistrate judge for entry of a guilty plea by the Defendant, Houng Chen, to Count One of the Information. Count One alleges that in the year 2011, the exact date being unknown, and December 31, 2012, in the Eastern District of Texas, the Defendant, Houng Chen, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a Court of the United States, that is 8 U.S.C. § 1324 (a)(1)(A)(v)(I), conspiracy to transport, harbor and encourage and induce an alien to reside in the United States, and the said Defendant, Houng Chen, did conceal the same and did not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil authority under the United States, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 4.
The Defendant, Houng Chen, entered a plea of guilty to Count One of the Information into the record at the hearing. After conducting the proceeding in the form and manner prescribed by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, the undersigned finds:
a. That the Defendant, after consultation with his attorney, has knowingly, freely and voluntarily consented to the administration of the guilty plea in this case by a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Texas, subject to a final approval and imposition of sentence by the District Court.
b. That the Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea, that the Defendant is aware of the nature of the charges and the consequences of the plea, and that the plea of guilty is made freely, knowingly, and voluntarily. Upon addressing the Defendant personally in open court, the undersigned determined that the Defendant's plea is knowing and voluntary and did not result from force, threats or promises.
c. That the Defendant's knowing and voluntary plea is supported by an independent factual basis establishing each of the essential elements of the offense and the Defendant realizes that his conduct falls within the definition of the crimes charged under 18 U.S.C. § 4.
As factual support for the Defendant's guilty plea, the Government presented a factual basis.
The Defendant agreed with and stipulated to the evidence presented in the factual basis. Counsel for the Defendant and the Government attested to the Defendant's competency and capability to enter an informed plea of guilty. The Defendant agreed with the evidence presented by the Government and personally testified that he was entering his guilty plea knowingly, freely and voluntarily.
The Defendant is ordered to report to the United States Probation Department for the preparation of a presentence report. The Defendant has the right to allocute before the District Court before imposition of sentence.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c), each party to this action has the right to file objections to this report and recommendation. Objections to this report must: (1) be in writing, (2) specifically identify those findings or recommendations to which the party objects, and (3) be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy of this report.
A party's failure to file specific, written objections to the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in this report, within fourteen (14) days of being served with a copy of this report, bars that party from: (1) entitlement to de novo review by the United States District Judge of the findings of fact and conclusions of law,