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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO.: 1:22-cr-20544-PCH/Becerra

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

v. 

SHONNEKIA SCOTT,

Defendant. 

_____________________________________/

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON CHANGE OF PLEA

THIS CAUSE came before the Court following the District Court’s referral for a change 

of plea. ECF No. [12]. Based upon the Change of Plea hearing conducted on December 7, 2022,

the undersigned makes the following findings, and recommends that the guilty plea be accepted.

1. This Court advised Shonnekia Scott (“Defendant”) of the right to have these 

proceedings conducted by the District Judge assigned to the case, and that this Court was 

conducting the change of plea hearing pursuant to an Order of Reference from the District Court. 

This Court further advised Defendant that the District Judge assigned to this case would be the 

sentencing judge and would make all findings and rulings concerning Defendant’s sentence. This 

Court advised Defendant that she did not have to permit the undersigned United States Magistrate 

Judge to conduct this hearing and could request that the change of plea hearing be conducted by 

the District Judge assigned to the case. Defendant, Defendant’s attorney, and the Assistant United 

States Attorney all consented on the record to this Court conducting the change of plea hearing.

2. This Court conducted a plea colloquy in accordance with the outline set forth in the 

Bench Book for District Judges, and in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11. 

3. Defendant pled guilty to Counts 1 and 4 of the Indictment. Count 1 charges

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Defendant with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The Court 

advised Defendant that as to Count 1, there is a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, followed by 

a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a possible fine of up to $250,000.00. Count 4 

charges Defendant with aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 

Section 1028A(a)(1). The Court advised Defendant that as to Count 4, there is a mandatory 

minimum of 2 years imprisonment and a maximum of 2 years imprisonment, followed by a period 

of supervised release of up to 1 year, and a possible fine of up to $250,000.00. The Court also 

advised Defendant that there is a mandatory special assessment of $100.00, including the 

possibility of forfeiture and restitution. 

4. To set forth the factual basis for the entry of the plea, Defendant and the 

Government submitted a written Factual Proffer. The Factual Proffer, also read by the 

Government at the hearing, established all the essential elements of the crime to which Defendant 

is pleading guilty. Defendant acknowledged that the Factual Proffer was accurate.

5. There is a written plea agreement which has been entered into by the parties in this 

case. This Court reviewed that plea agreement on the record and Defendant acknowledged that 

she understood the terms of the plea agreement and that she had signed the plea agreement.

6. Based upon all of the foregoing and the plea colloquy conducted by this Court, the 

undersigned finds that Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea, that 

Defendant is aware of the nature of the charges and the consequences of the plea, and that the plea 

of guilty is a knowing and voluntary plea supported by an independent basis in fact containing 

each of the essential elements of the offense. 

7. Therefore, the undersigned recommends that Defendant be found to have freely and 

voluntarily entered a guilty plea to Counts 1 and 4 of the Indictment filed in this case, as more 

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particularly described herein, and that Defendant be adjudicated guilty of those offenses. 

8. A pre-sentence investigation report is being prepared for the District Court by the 

United States Probation Office.

Accordingly, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that Defendant’s plea of guilty be accepted, 

that Defendant be adjudicated guilty of the offense to which she has entered her plea of guilty, and 

that a sentencing hearing be conducted for final disposition of this matter.

As the undersigned advised counsel, the parties must file a statement of non-objection or 

file written objections to this Report and Recommendation, by close of business Monday, 

December 12, 2022. Counsel did not object to this deadline. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b), 

Eleventh Circuit Rule 3-1, and accompanying Internal Operating Procedure 3, the parties are 

hereby notified that failure to object in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) waives the right to 

challenge on appeal the District Court’s order based on unobjected-to factual and legal 

conclusions. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985).

DONE AND SUBMITTED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, on December 7, 2022. 

_________________________

JACQUELINE BECERRA

United States Magistrate Judge

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