SUSAN COLLINS, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE UPON A PLEA OF GUILTY

SUSAN COLLINS, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

TO: THE HONORABLE HOLLY A. BRADY, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Upon Defendant's request to enter a plea of guilty pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, this matter came on for hearing before U.S. Magistrate Susan Collins, on February 2, 2021, with the written consents of Defendant, counsel for Defendant, and counsel for the United States of America. The Defendant waived in open Court prosecution by indictment and consented that the proceedings may be by information rather than by indictment.

For the proceeding, counsel for the United States of America and the courtroom deputy clerk were physically present in the courtroom. The Magistrate Judge, Defendant, and counsel for Defendant participated by video teleconference. Defendant consented to appearing by video teleconference, and both she and her lawyer stated that they had discussed the matter. Defendant's image and voice were clear, and I confirmed that she could see and hear me and counsel clearly.

I proceeded without Defendant physically present because, during the national emergency created by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Defendant could not be physically present without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety. See General Order No. 2020-08 (implementing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136 (“CARES Act”), and March 29, 2020, action by Judicial Conference authorizing video teleconferencing or teleconferencing under certain circumstances); General Order 2020-39 (extending the authorization for use of video teleconferencing or teleconferencing for the instances described in General Order 2020-08).

I did not further postpone the pleas because Defendant's lawyer contended, and I FIND, that further delay of the pleas would cause serious harm to the interests of justice. Specifically, I FIND that the pleas in this case cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice because:

(1) delaying the proceedings further to accommodate an in-person plea hearing is impracticable given that there is no ascertainable end to the current National Emergency stemming from the COVID-19 virus, and the interests of justice will be seriously harmed by prolonged, indefinite delays of the plea hearing in light of Defendant's desire to plead guilty;

(2) proceeding with the plea hearing by video teleconference at this time reduces the potential that any necessary participant in the hearing-including, specifically, Defendant, Defendant's counsel, the Assistant United States Attorney, and/or any relevant case agent(s) with personal knowledge of the case-may become unavailable or unable to attend a plea hearing in person due to illness; and

(3) delay of the felony pleas in this case will also delay the sentencing proceedings for an indeterminate period of time, which delay may - depending upon the sentence imposed and Defendant's eligibility to receive credit for time served - result in Defendant remaining incarcerated for a longer period of time than if Defendant were to enter guilty pleas at the currently scheduled hearing and proceed to sentencing in the normal course.

The hearing on Defendant's pleas of guilty was in full compliance with Rule 11, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, as supplemented by, and in accordance with, Section 15002 of the CARES Act and General Orders 2020-08 and 2020-29.

I FIND as follows:

(1) that Defendant understands the nature of the charge against her to which the plea is offered;

(2) that the Defendant's waiver of indictment is knowing and voluntary;

(3) that the Defendant understands her right to trial by jury, to persist in her plea of not guilty, to the assistance of counsel at trial, to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, and her right against compelled self-incrimination;

(4) that the Defendant understands what the maximum possible sentence is, including the effect of the supervised release term, and Defendant understands that the sentencing guidelines apply and that the Court may depart from those guidelines under some circumstances;

(5) that the plea of guilty by the Defendant has been knowingly and voluntarily made and are not the result of force or threats or of promises apart from the plea agreement between the parties;

(6) that Defendant is competent to plead guilty;

(7) that the Defendant understands that her answers may later be used against her in a prosecution for perjury or false statement;

(8) that there is a factual basis for the Defendant's plea; and further, I RECOMMEND that the Court accept both the Defendant's waiver of indictment and plea of guilty and that the Defendant be adjudged guilty of the offenses charged in Count 2 of the two-count Information and have sentence imposed. A Presentence Report has been ordered. Should this Findings and Recommendation be accepted and Defendant adjudged guilty, sentencing will be scheduled before District Judge Holly A. Brady by separate order and notice. Objections to the Findings and Recommendation are waived unless filed and served within fourteen (14) days. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).