IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Robert E. Blackburn, Judge

Criminal Action No. 11-cr-00422-REB-04

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

4. RICHARD CROSSE,

Defendant.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

 ON THE ENTRY OF A PLEA OF GUILTY

Blackburn, J.

On October 9, 2012, I conducted a change of plea hearing during which (1) the

defendant, his counsel, counsel for the government, and I formally reviewed and

considered the plea agreement of the parties as stated in Court's Exhibits 1 and 2, ("plea

agreement"); (2) I arraigned the defendant under Fed. R. Crim. P. 10 and 7; and (3) I

formally advised the defendant and conducted providency proceedings under Fed. R.

Crim. P. 11.

Based upon my exchange and colloquy with the defendant under oath in open court

on the record; based upon the representations, remarks, and statements of counsel for the

government and counsel for the defendant; based upon my review of the file and my

review of the written plea agreement as stated in Court's Exhibits 1 and 2, I enter the

following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

That the defendant appeared to be alert and not under the influence of or impaired

by drugs, narcotics, marihuana, alcohol, medication, or intoxicants;

That the defendant was competent and fully understood the nature, circumstances,

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and essential elements of the offense to which his plea of guilty was entered;

That the defendant understands clearly that the government has the right in a

prosecution for perjury or false statement to use against the defendant any statement that

the defendant gives under oath;

That the defendant understood the direct and collateral consequences that he may

suffer or experience as a result of his participation in the plea agreement, his plea of guilty,

and the resultant felony conviction and sentence;

That the defendant's plea of guilty and admission of the forfeiture allegations were

made and entered voluntarily, knowingly, intelligently and intentionally, and were not the

result of mistake; misunderstanding, fear, force, threats, coercion, or undue influence by

anyone;

That the defendant's plea of guilty and admission of the forfeiture allegations were 

not the result of any promise or inducement made by anyone, including legal counsel;

That the defendant understood each of his legal rights, including the rights

enumerated at Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(B) and (E), and his right to a trial by jury and his

right to be represented throughout this criminal case by an attorney even if indigent; and

that the defendant freely, voluntarily, knowingly, intelligently, and intentionally waived his

rights and privileges, including the right to trial by jury and except as limited expressly by

the plea agreement, his right to appeal or to collaterally attack the prosecution, conviction,

and/or sentence; however, the defendant did not waive his right to be represented

throughout this criminal case by an attorney even if indigent;

That the defendant understood the maximum possible penalties, including

imprisonment, fine, and term of supervised release;

That the defendant understood that in imposing sentence, I must consult and

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consider the purposes and goals of sentencing as prescribed by Congress, the relevant 

provisions of the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines, any motion for a sentence

departure or variance, and the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a)(1)-(7);and the defendant

clearly understood that regardless of the sentence I impose, he may not withdraw his plea

of guilty on that basis;

That the defendant understood that the court will not be bound by any

representations by anyone concerning the penalty to be imposed;

That a factual basis existed to support and sustain the plea agreement and the

defendant's plea of guilty;

That the defendant has been represented at the change of plea hearing and

throughout this case by effective and competent counsel with whom the defendant has no

objection, criticism, or complaint whatsoever;

That the defendant had sufficient time to read, review, discuss, and consider his

plea agreement and to discuss it carefully and thoroughly with his legal counsel; 

That the defendant read, understood, and accepted each and every term and

provision within his plea agreement, which he reviewed carefully and thoroughly with his

legal counsel; 

That the plea agreement conformed in form and substance to the requirements of

law, including The Local Rules of Practice of the United States District Court for the District

of Colorado-Criminal; 

That the defendant, after being advised of the charge and his legal rights,

voluntarily, knowingly, intelligently, and intentionally waived his right to be charged by

indictment returned by the grand jury and consented to being charged by information filed

by the United States Attorney; and 

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That on the record considered as a whole, I conclude that I may properly accept the

defendant's plea of guilty and admission of the forfeiture allegations, which were entered

pursuant to his plea agreement, and defer formal approval of the plea agreement as stated

in Court's Exhibits 1 and 2, pending opportunity to consider the presentence report. 

Dated October 9, 2012, at Denver, Colorado.

BY THE COURT:

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