Report and Recommendation (Change of Plea) — United States v. Roody Metelus (S.D. Fla.)

Record facts

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida · No. 0:26-cr-60019-RKA · Doc. 25 · 2026-04-27 · Docket on CourtListener

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA 
 
Case No.:  26-CR-60019-ALTMAN/HERNANDEZ 
 
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 
 
v. 
 
ROODY METELUS, 
 
 
 
Defendant. 
______________________________/ 
 
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 
FOLLOWING CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING 
 
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Order of Reference from United 
States District Judge Roy K. Altman.  A change of plea hearing was held on 
4/27/2026, which was attended by the Defendant, his counsel, and the prosecutor.  
1. 
The Court found the Defendant competent to proceed with a change 
of plea colloquy. 
2. 
The Court advised the Defendant of the right to have the hearing 
conducted by the presiding United States District Judge assigned to the case.  The 
Court further advised the Defendant that, regardless of who conducted the plea 
hearing, the sentence would be imposed by the presiding United States District 
Judge, who would make all findings and rulings regarding such sentence and 
would conduct a sentencing hearing.  The Defendant and the Government 
consented to the undersigned judge conducting the change of plea hearing.  
Case 0:26-cr-60019-RKA   Document 25   Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2026   Page 1 of 4

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3. 
The Court then conducted a plea colloquy in accordance with the 
outline set forth in the Benchbook for U.S. District Judges and in conformity with 
the requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. 
4. 
A written plea agreement has been entered into by the parties and 
made part of the record.  This Court reviewed the plea agreement and had the 
Defendant acknowledge signing the plea agreement.   This Court also advised the 
Defendant of the statutory maximum penalties and any minimum mandatory 
sentences which could be imposed in this case. 
5. 
The Defendant acknowledged being fully satisfied with the services 
of his attorney and that he had full opportunity to discuss all facets of his case with 
his attorney − including the discovery, potential defenses, and potential motions 
to suppress. 
6. 
The Defendant pled guilty to the sole found of the Information, which 
charges him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United 
States Code, Section 371.  
7. 
The Court also found that the Defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and 
intelligently waived his right to appeal certain aspects of the sentence.  
8. 
The parties submitted an agreed written factual basis for the plea, 
which was signed by the Defendant, his counsel, and the Government.  This factual 
proffer includes all of the essential elements of the offense to which the Defendant 
pled guilty.  The written factual basis was made part of the record.  The 
Government orally summarized the factual basis for the plea on the record, 
Case 0:26-cr-60019-RKA   Document 25   Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2026   Page 2 of 4

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including the essential elements of each offense.  Defendant acknowledged that he 
signed the factual proffer and that all the statements contained therein are true.  
9. 
Defendant has been referred to the United States Probation Office for 
the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation report.  The sentencing hearing will 
be conducted at a time scheduled by separate order by the United States District 
Judge.  
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing and the plea colloquy conducted by 
this Court, the undersigned RECOMMENDS that the Defendant, ROODY 
METELUS, (1) be found to have freely, knowingly, and voluntarily entered a guilty 
plea to the sole count of the Information., (2) that his guilty plea be accepted, (3) 
that he be adjudicated guilty of the offense, and (4) that a sentencing hearing as 
scheduled by the U.S. District Judge be conducted for a final disposition of this 
matter. 
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT 
A party shall serve and file written objections, if any, to this Report and 
Recommendation with the Honorable Roy K. Altman, United States District Judge 
for the Southern District of Florida, within THREE (3) DAYS1 of being served 
with a copy of this Report and Recommendation. Failure to timely file objections 
 
1 At the change of plea hearing, both parties agreed to a truncated objections period of three days.  See 
Nadeau v. Condo Black Book, LLC, No. 23-CV-21271, 2023 WL 3293038, at *1 (S.D. Fla. May 5, 
2023) (allowing three days for objections when the plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order 
was ex parte); MCM Ent., Inc. v. Diaz World Trade Grp., Inc., No. 22-CV-23189, 2023 WL 2917752, 
at *1 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 11, 2023) (shortening period of time to file objections when both parties agreed at 
the hearing to a truncated time period).   
Case 0:26-cr-60019-RKA   Document 25   Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2026   Page 3 of 4

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shall constitute a waiver of a party’s “right to challenge on appeal the district 
court’s order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions.” 11th Cir. R. 3-
1 (2016). 
DONE and RECOMMENDED in Miami, Florida, this 27th day of April, 
2026. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
YENEY HERNANDEZ 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 
Case 0:26-cr-60019-RKA   Document 25   Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2026   Page 4 of 4

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