United States v. Walter Joseph Thibodeaux

GEE, Circuit Judge:

Walter Joseph Thibodeaux directly appeals his sentence — the result of a hearing that did not fully comply with the requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. We find that the noncompliance did not affect the appellant’s substantial rights and therefore affirm.

The appellant was indicted on two counts of a six-count indictment involving the unlawful dispensing of drugs by a licensed physician. He agreed to plead guilty to one count and to cooperate as a witness in exchange for the government’s promise to drop the other count and to recommend a…