U.S. v. Pineda-Buenaventura

In prosecution on drug conspiracy charge, Dist. Ct. erred in entering guilty plea on behalf of defendant where record demonstrated that defendant did not understand either nature of conspiracy charge against him or specific acts to which he was pleading guilty. Record showed that defendant gave only partial or contradictory answers as to whether he delivered drugs upon instruction of co-defendant as alleged in indictment. Fact that defendant was represented by counsel during Rule 11 plea colloquy did not require different result, and Dist. Ct. should have recessed matter to allow counsel to more fully explain plea process, as well as factual premise that formed conspiracy charge before accepting plea under circumstances of case.