USA v. Gardner, et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAINTIFF
VS. CRIMINAL CASE NO. 5:25-50039-00-TLB
JAMIE CONNOLLY DEFENDANT
MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3), Local Rule 72.1 ¶ XII, and
General Order No. 40, this matter was referred to the undersigned for the purposes of conducting a
plea hearing pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Such a hearing was
conducted on November 5, 2025, and, pursuant to a written plea agreement, the Defendant, Jamie
Connolly, entered a plea of guilty to Count Four of the Indictment, charging her with the knowing
and intentional distribution of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine in violation of
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). The plea agreement provides that if the Court accepts the plea
agreement, once the Court has pronounced sentence, the United States will move to dismiss the
remaining counts against Defendant contained in the Indictment.
After conducting the hearing in the form and manner prescribed by Rule 11, the undersigned
finds:
1. The Defendant, after consultation with her counsel, has knowingly and voluntarily
consented, both in writing in the plea agreement and on the record at the hearing, to the entry of her
guilty plea before the undersigned, with Defendant’s plea of guilt subject to final approval by United
States District Judge Timothy L. Brooks.
2. The Defendant and the Government have entered into a written plea agreement which
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has been disclosed in open court pursuant to Rule 11(c)(2), and the undersigned has directed that the
plea agreement be filed. (ECF No. 65).
3. The Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea; the
Defendant is aware of the nature of the charges, the applicable maximum penalties, and the
consequences of the plea; the Defendant is fully satisfied with her counsel and has had sufficient
time to consult with counsel; and 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 offenses.
4. The Defendant understands her constitutional and statutory rights and wishes to waive
these rights.
5. The parties were informed, both in writing in the plea agreement and on the record
at the hearing, of their right to file written objections within fourteen (14) days after receipt of this
Report and Recommendation. To expedite acceptance of the guilty plea, the parties waived, both
on the record and in writing in the plea agreement, their right to file objections.
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that the guilty plea be accepted. The
written plea agreement will be subject to approval by the District Judge at sentencing.
DATED this 7th day of November 2025.
CHRISTY COMSTOCK
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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