Admission of guilt is an oral or written statement by an accused acknowledging that they have committed a criminal offense. An admission of guilt can be indicated from the words of an accused even though specific words like “yes, I am guilty” are not used. In the case of U.S. v. Roberts, the First Circuit held that the phrase ‘admission of guilt’ does not have so clear and precise a meaning as to foreclose its extension to a defendant's admission to sufficient facts to warrant a finding of guilt. The guideline by its terms uses the word ‘admission’ and does not require a formal plea of guilty.
See, e.g. Libretti v. U.S., 516 U.S. 29 (1995)
[Last updated in February of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]