USA v. Goswick

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAINTIFF
VS. CASE NO. 5:25-50029-001 TLB
MELISSA GOSWICK 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 April 4, 2025, and, pursuant to a written plea agreement, the Defendant, Melissa
Goswick, waived Indictment and entered a plea of guilt to Count One of an Information charging her
with the offense of passing counterfeit obligations in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 472. After
conducting the hearing in the form and manner prescribed by Rule 11, the undersigned finds:
1. Defendant understands her constitutional right to be charged by an indictment by
a grand jury, and after consultation with her counsel, wishes to waive this right. Defendant has
knowingly and voluntarily waived her right to be charged by indictment by a grand jury and the
Waiver of Indictment has been filed at the direction of the Court. (ECF No. 4).
2. Defendant, after further 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 to Count One of the Information, before the undersigned, with the plea being subject to
final approval by United States District Judge Timothy L. Brooks.
3. Defendant and the Government have entered into a written plea agreement which has
been disclosed in open court pursuant to Rule 11(c)(2), and the undersigned has directed that the plea
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agreement be filed. (ECF No. 12).
4. Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea; Defendant
is aware of the nature of the charges contained in the Information, the applicable maximum penalties,
and the consequences of the plea of guilty; 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.
5. Defendant understands her constitutional and statutory rights and wishes to waive
these rights.
6. 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 Defendant’s guilty plea be
accepted. The written plea agreement will be subject to approval by the District Judge at sentencing.
DATED this 4th day of April 2025.
_______________________________
CHRISTY COMSTOCK
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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