Northern District of Indiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Woman Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Valentina Marinkovic, age 19, of Baltimore, Maryland was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty upon her plea of guilty on a count of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Marinkovic was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $78,120.73.
According to documents in the case, on or about August 5, and continuing until on or about October 1, 2018, Marinkovic executed a scheme to defraud a federally insured financial institution. Law enforcement had been investigating several reports of skimming devices being placed on bank and credit union ATMS as well as gas station credit card readers at gas pumps. Skimming devices capture and store credit and debit card numbers of unsuspecting victims. The device is subsequently removed and the information from the skimming device is used to produce fraudulent credit/debit cards for unauthorized transactions.
In this case, a credit union was victimized by having to reimburse members for losses exceeding $78,000.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Indiana State Police Organized Crime and Corruption Unit along with the Elkhart Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey Speith.
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Man Sentenced to 57 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Mauricio Ramirez, age 25, Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in this case, a confidential informant and an undercover agent made several controlled buys of heroin and cocaine from Mr. Dorrion Jefferson. Jefferson also agreed to deliver four ounces of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. On his way to deliver the methamphetamine to the undercover agent, Jefferson picked up Ramirez. Ramirez entered the vehicle carrying a bag. The vehicle was stopped by law enforcement on the way to the delivery. Officers located the bag inside the vehicle which contained over 100 grams of methamphetamine.
Due to his prior drug dealing convictions, Jefferson was deemed to be a career offender under the sentencing guidelines. Jefferson pled guilty and was sentenced in August to 204 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Indiana State Police with the assistance of the DHS Customs and Border Protection Agency and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Francisco L. Mendez, age 39, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Damon Leichty upon his plea of guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mendez was sentenced to 121 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in February of 2018, Mendez distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. In April of 2018, he possessed a firearm after being a twice convicted felon in Allen County Superior Court; one in April 2012 for resisting law enforcement and one in November of 2012 for carrying a handgun without a license.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
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Auburn Man Sentenced to 5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jeffrey Gaunt, age 62, of Auburn, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to manufacturing over 100 marijuana plants, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Gaunt was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in June 2018, acting on a tip an Indiana State Police Marijuana Eradication Helicopter was flying over Mr. Gaunts residence. While flying over, officers observed Gaunt pulling up plants that appeared to be marijuana and trying to flee. The helicopter landed and officers detained Gaunt. A subsequent search warrant served on his property found 177 rooted marijuana plants, 60 non-rooted marijuana clones, sealed packages of marijuana, firearms and items consistent with a marijuana grow operation. Mr. Gaunt is a convicted felon for Burglary and was sentenced to over 12 years in prison.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Indiana State Police Marijuana Eradication Team and the Allen County Police Drug Task Force. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Man Found Guilty After 2-Day Jury TrialRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Odonis Parker, age 29, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm in a 2-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Damon Leichty, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in this case, Mr. Parker was in possession of a firearm on May 26, 2019 after being a twice convicted felon in Allen County Superior Court. His prior felonies were for Robbery and Theft on separate occasions.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced To15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Scott Trischler, age 25, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Trischler was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $5,100 was also imposed.
According to documents in this case, Trischler communicated with a victim who was 12 years of age while he was playing with her as an administrator of an online game. He continued to communicate with the victim after finding out his/her age and after the victim’s parents attempted to stop the communication. He encouraged the victim to communicate with him on other online platforms and began engaging in sexually explicit communications. He was also able to convince the victim to send digital still and video images that were sexually explicit which he saved to his phone and eventually transferred to his computer.
The initial charges were filed and handled by the US Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of California, Fresno Office, and the defendant was arrested and pled guilty here in the Northern District of Indiana. The case was investigated by FBI in the Sacramento California Division, along with the Madera County Sheriff’s Department, and these law enforcement entities received assistance from the Fort Wayne Resident Office of the FBI, including members of its Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Task Force Officers. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 78 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Shea Smith, age 48, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty of receipt of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Smith was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit the items involved in the commission of the offense.
According to documents in this case, from approximately July 2014 through July 2017, Smith received materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. In his plea agreement, Smith agreed to forfeit the following items: desktop computers, laptop computers, a camera and a hard drive.
The case was investigated by FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Task Force. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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New Carlisle Man Convicted at Trial Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $2,271,720.05 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Kevin Clinton, age 62, of New Carlisle, Indiana, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr, after being convicted on 4 counts of mail fraud during a 2-day trial in May 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Clinton was sentenced to 71 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,271,720.05 in restitution.
According to evidence presented at trial, Clinton was employed as the Chief Information Officer at a business in South Bend. From about March 2012 through October 2017, he executed a scheme to defraud his employer. He incorporated a separate business called Innovation Services that supposedly provided information-technology services to his employer, and he used a virtual office to submit fraudulent billings to his employer totaling over $2.2 million. Clinton’s employer sent checks to the virtual office as payment for fake services claimed in the fraudulent billings. At the time, his employer did not know Clinton owned the sham business.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joel Gabrielse.
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Latin King Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-David Ulmenstine, 28, of Posen, Illinois, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, was sentenced by Judge Simon to 70 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Ulmenstine was held responsible for activity involving between 400 and 500 grams of cocaine distributed by the Latin Kings street gang. As a member of the Latin Kings, Ulmenstine attended gang meetings and paid dues, which went to the purchase of such things as firearms and narcotics for the gang. Ulmenstine was involved in distributing narcotics and patrolled Latin King neighborhoods looking out for rival gang members and police.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, have also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Hammond Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Temika Coleman, age 41, of Hammond, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody upon her plea of guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Coleman was sentenced to 121 months in prison and ordered to pay in excess of $180,000 in restitution to various financial institutions and retailers.
According to documents in this case, Coleman participated in a scheme that involved stolen personal identifying information from victims in more than 10 states and Canada. Coleman and co-defendants stole some of the victims’ information from a hospital in Arizona. The stolen records included birth dates, social security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, employment information, insurance carriers, treating physicians, and identifying information related to the victims’ emergency contacts. Coleman and others fraudulently opened credit cards, bank accounts, and retail credit accounts on-line.
Co-defendant Vincent Prunty of Chicago was sentenced in August 2019, to 154 months in prison for his role in the scheme. Co-defendant Germico Childress of Calumet City, IL pled guilty in June 2018, and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Denise Houston.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Tyson Hudson, age 34, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Hudson was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in February 2019 Hudson was found in possession of 3 handguns after being convicted and sentenced in federal court for distribution of 5 grams or more of crack cocaine in 2007. The handguns found during the search warrant of Mr. Hudson’s residence consisted of .45 caliber pistol, a 9mm pistol, and a .25 caliber pistol. Mr. Hudson was also in possession of ammunition.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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Professor Pleads Guilty to A Scheme to Defraud the National Science FoundationRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Dr. Qingyou Han, 61, of West Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty today to committing the criminal felony offense of wire fraud, before U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon. Dr. Han’s wife, Lu Shao, 53, of Lakewood, Ohio, also pled guilty, on behalf of her company Hans Tech, LLC (“Hans Tech”), to participating in the same wire fraud scheme.
The charging documents in the case allege that Dr. Han, a Purdue University professor and the Director of its Center for Materials Processing Research, devised a scheme to defraud the National Science Foundation (“NSF”) into giving Hans Tech over $1.3 million in research grants through its Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) and Small Business Technology Transfer (“STTR”) programs by making materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises and material omissions. In pleading guilty, Dr. Han, individually, and Ms. Shao on behalf of Hans Tech, acknowledged that the purpose of the scheme was to obtain grant funds allocated for research and to use some or all of those funds for other purposes, including to pay personal expenses or for the enrichment of Dr. Han, Ms. Shao, or their children.
In pleading guilty, each defendant acknowledged that the factual allegations in the charging documents were true and accurate. One such allegation was that Dr. Han wrote grant proposals on behalf of Hans Tech and submitted them and other documents to NSF electronically using his wife’s name. In submitting those proposals, neither Dr. Han nor Ms. Shao informed NSF that they were married or that Dr. Han, who was not affiliated as an owner or employee of the company, was actually running Hans Tech behind the scenes. In some of the Hans Tech proposals to NSF, the company recommended that Dr. Han, in his capacity as a Purdue professor, be hired as a subcontractor to assist in carrying out the research. Other documents justified the use of research funds to pay employees who, unbeknownst to the NSF, were actually Dr. Han and Ms. Shao’s minor children who were between the ages of 9 and 16 at the time they allegedly worked for Hans Tech. Another justification given to NSF’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) for the use of research funds was the payment of $3,000 per month in “rent” for a “laboratory” where the research would be performed. Unbeknownst to NSF at the time, the “laboratory” was actually a single family residence, and the over $150,000 in “rent” was to be paid to Ms. Shao despite the fact that Hans Tech funds had been used to purchase the residence and the company owned the property outright. At one point in the scheme, Dr. Han also used a company in his name to pose as a “third-party” wishing to invest $100,000 in Hans Tech. Unbeknownst to NSF at the time, the “investment” derived in part from Hans Tech’s own funds and, after it was made, $120,000 (at least $80,000 of which were grant funds) was transferred to a bank account of Dr. Han. Subsequently, the money was moved through various accounts until checks totaling just under $75,000, at least one of which could not have been written without NSF grant funds, were used to pay off the home mortgage of Dr. Han and Ms. Shao.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch said, “The National Science Foundation small business grants are funded by taxpayer dollars and are meant to be used as seed money to help fuel innovation and advancement in science and technology. Schemes such as this, carried out by an otherwise well-respected member of the scientific community, are an affront to NSF and the hard-working employees who administer its grants, and they also deprive other more deserving small businesses from bringing their innovations and advancements to the U.S. marketplace.” Mr. Kirsch concluded that “this kind of taxpayer funded program fraud will be aggressively prosecuted by my office going forward, just as it was in this case.”
“The SBIR/STTR program is a valuable tool in advancing NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by increasing opportunities for innovative research by small businesses,” stated National Science Foundation Inspector General Allison Lerner. “The NSF Office of Inspector General is committed to vigorously pursuing fraud, waste and abuse in the SBIR/STTR programs. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners for their strong support in this effort.”
This case was the result of an investigation by National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Michigan City Police Department.
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster and NSF OIG Investigative Attorney Sonia Khanzode. Ms. Khanzode was designated by U.S. Attorney Kirsch to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in this case.
The sentencing hearings for Dr. Han and Hans Tech have been set for Tuesday, January 21, 2020, beginning at 1p.m.
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South Bend, Indiana Man Sentenced to 43 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Donyea Fowler, age 34, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for six counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and six counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Mr. Fowler was sentenced to 516 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,253.19 in restitution.
According to documents in this case, between December 2017 and February 2018, Mr. Fowler robbed six South Bend area businesses at gun point. Mr Fowler was connected to these robberies, in part, because he committed the robberies while wearing the same clothing: maroon sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, a mask, gloves, and sneakers. Several times he used a blue satchel to carry the loot. Mr. Fowler repeatedly stole cash, change, lottery tickets, liquor, and tobacco products. When Mr. Fowler was arrested, police found the blue satchel, a gray glove, and the loaded chrome-colored handgun in the trunk of the car in which Mr. Fowler was a passenger. Police also found a picture of stolen items from the robbery that occurred in January of 2018 on Mr. Fowler’s cell phone. Mr. Fowler has four prior felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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LaPorte Man Sentenced to 60 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Eric R. Weiler, 46, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after entering a plea of guilty to production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and making a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Weiler was sentenced to 720 months in prison, 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay 26,250 in restitution.
“The facts of this case are horrific,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch. “Mr. Weiler’s crimes caused great pain to the victim’s family and could have, but for the swift intervention of law enforcement, resulted in severe and permanent injury to other potential victims. His 60 year sentence reflects the seriousness of his heinous crimes.” Mr. Kirsch went on to express his sincere thanks to all the law enforcement officials involved in this case.
“This lengthy sentence will deliver some justice to the young victims and their families and ensure this defendant will never harm again,” said Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones of the ATF Chicago Field Division. “We will continue to investigate these serious crimes with our law enforcement partners and appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in prosecuting this particular case.”
"Mr. Weiler took advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our society and his sentence reflects the heinous nature of his crime," said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis. "It also is a testament to the strong partnerships the FBI has with our law enforcement partners and should send a strong message that we will identify and pursue charges against those who perpetrate these illegal activities."
According to documents in this case, Weiler drugged several people so that they would be unconscious while he recorded a video of himself performing sex acts on an unconscious child. Weiler relived the abuse by writing about it many times in drawings and notes that were later recovered from his house. In the summer of 2017, Weiler fixated on another child, who, according to his writings, he intended to kidnap and sexually abuse after killing the child’s guardians. During that summer, Weiler became suspicious of a person and jerry-rigged that person’s car to explode by re-routing turn signal wires into the gas tank to create a spark. Weiler had also been going into an abandoned house to watch the child playing outside. Investigators went into the vacant house and discovered writings on interior walls documenting the writer’s attempts to acquire a girl under the age of twelve, ideally a newborn baby, for sexual contact. Investigators recovered two incendiary devices, in Weiler’s home, one of which is commonly referred to as an improvised explosive device (IED) and had to later be detonated at the LaPorte County Fair Grounds. Investigators also recovered multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices in his home, which contained over 24,000 images and over 80 videos of child pornography, including the videos he had produced of himself with the unconscious drugged child. Weiler’s electronic devices also contained videos of him threatening to use one of the explosive devices to extort sex from an unidentified woman.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, LaPorte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department and Bomb Squad. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Molly E. Donnelly.
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Marion Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Daniel King, age 68, of Marion, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
King was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release and the Court ordered forfeiture of the items involved in the commission of offense.
According to documents in this case, in July of 2016, King, was indicted for receiving child pornography and ultimately pled guilty to this offense. In his plea agreement, King also agreed to forfeit a tablet, a thumb drive, a laptop computer and 5 hard drives.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Task Force. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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Man Charged with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Antonio Munos, 47, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
The criminal complaint alleges that Munos possessed in excess of 2 pounds of methamphetamine. It was alleged that a Mr. Munos had agreed to sell methamphetamine to an individual on October 14, 2019. Mr. Munos and the individual met but did not come to agreement on the price so Mr. Munos was allegedly going to drive to the source of supply’s house. While driving to the house, Mr. Munos committed a traffic violation and was stopped by police. He exhibited nervous behavior when asked about the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, causing the officer to request a K-9 sweep. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle where over 2 pounds of methamphetamine were located in the trunk.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the DEA with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Deported Felon Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Luis Carrera, age 45, of Hammond, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Carrera was sentenced to 60 months in prison with 4 years of supervised release, however he will be deported upon completion of his federal sentence.
According to documents in this case, Carrera brought a kilogram of cocaine to Fort Wayne from Hammond, Indiana. During a search of the vehicle driven by Mr. Carrera, officers found the cocaine wrapped and concealed in a plastic oil bottle. Mr. Carrera was previously removed from the U.S. for attempted illegal entry and was also on probation in Porter County, Indiana for dealing Marijuana.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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Mishawaka, Indiana Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Zachary Adams, age 34, of Mishawaka, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for felon in possession, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Adams was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Mr. Adams broke in a police officer’s home and stole numerous items, including a 9mm handgun. Five days later, Mr. Adams stole a car and drove to a South Bend business where he tried to commit fraud by using a false (or stolen) Florida driver’s license. Mr. Adams fought responding officers; however, the officers were able to subdue him. Officers found the stolen 9mm handgun in a shoulder holster under Mr. Adams’ shirt. Mr. Adams had been convicted of four felonies and five misdemeanors in the past.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Gary Man Sentenced to 108 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Emmanuel French, 32, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced before District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following his plea of guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 28 grams of crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
French received a sentence of 108 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in this case, between August 2016 and February 2017, Emmanuel French conspired with other individuals in Gary, Indiana, to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute at least 28 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Gang Response Investigative Team and Gary Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas R. Mahoney, Joseph A. Cooley, and Alexandra McTague.
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Chicago, Illinois Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Jonquel Lawson, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced before District Court Judge James T. Moody following his plea of guilty Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Lawson received a sentence of 96 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in this case, on September 2017 Mr. Lawson entered and robbed a cellular store in Munster, Indiana. When the employee went to the back room, he followed her and pointed a gun at her. Mr. Lawson stole in excess of $25,000 in cellular phones from the store and fled on foot.
This case was investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the Hammond Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Billy Harris, age 38, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Harris was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in July of 2017, Mr. Harris possessed a firearm after twice being convicted of felony offenses. In 2012, Harris was convicted of resisting law enforcement and in 2015, he was convicted of invasion of privacy along with committing domestic battery in presence of a child less than 16 years of age. Both these convictions were in Allen Superior Court, Allen County, Indiana.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Indiana State Police. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Juan Williams, age 31, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Williams was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in September 2017, Mr. Williams distributed fentanyl to a confidential informant. In October 2017, officers searched the residence of Mr. Williams and his co-defendant and located more than 40 grams of fentanyl and a .40 caliber handgun, among other evidence.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
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Three-Time Deported Felon Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Obeth Cardona-Quinonez, age 32, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady for illegal reentry of a removed alien, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Cardona-Quinonez was sentenced to 30 months in prison and will be deported upon completion of his federal sentence.
According to documents in this case, Cardona-Quinonez, a citizen of Mexico, was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) and providing false information to a law enforcement officer in 2013. Cardona-Quinonez was arrested for a second OWI in 2014. He was thereafter deported to Mexico in 2014. In May 2016, he illegally re-entered the U.S., was found and deported again within two weeks. In July of 2016, he again illegally re-entered the U.S. and in October of 2017, he was arrested for OWI after he drove into a utility pole, ran from the scene of an accident and had a blood alcohol content of double the legal limit in the State of Indiana. In July 2018, he pleaded guilty to the 2017 and the 2014 OWI charges and was deported a third time in August 2018. Cardona-Quinonez returned to the U.S. two months later, in October 2018, without legal authorization, and lived in Fort Wayne until December 2018 when he was charged with driving after having been declared a habitual offender, a charge which was later dismissed.
The case was investigated by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Nokes.
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Duo Sentenced and Ordered to Pay $757,499.06 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Edward Kerr, Jr., 56, of San Pierre, Indiana and Tammy Estrada, 36, of North Judson, Indiana, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon following their pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Edward Kerr Jr. was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $757,499.06 in restitution.
Tammy Estrada was sentenced to 6 months home detention along with 2 years’ supervised release and ordered to pay $757,499.06 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Edward Kerr, Jr., Tammy Estrada, and Brenda Kerr participated in a scheme in which United Mobile Care of San Pierre, Indiana, submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for transporting recipients by ambulance to dialysis appointments, when in fact the recipients were ambulatory and ineligible for ambulance transportation under Medicare and Medicaid. Edward Kerr, Jr. admitted he was United Mobile Care’s leader/manager.
Brenda Kerr was sentenced on September 13, 2019, to 2 years’ probation with 12 months of home detention and ordered to pay $757,499.06 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was handled by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
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Michigan City, Indiana Man Sentenced to 72 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Quonzee Merriweather, age 25, of Michigan City, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, said U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Merriweather was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in October of 2017, Mr. Merriweather distributed cocaine while in Michigan City, Indiana. Mr. Merriweather has three felony and two misdemeanor convictions and also has violated probation multiple times.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms with the assistance of the Michigan City Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Schaffer.
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Ligonier Man Sentenced to 165 MonthsRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jeffrey Brown, age 55, of Ligonier, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Brown was sentenced to 165 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in January of 2018, a federal search warrant was executed on Mr. Brown’s residence. During this search, approximately 40 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a scale, smoking devices and multiple cell phones were found.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Noble County Sheriff’s Department and the IMAGE Drug Task Force. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Nokes.
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Osceola, Indiana Man Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Lonnie Painter, age 57, of Osceola, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Painter was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, between June of 2018 and November of 2018, Mr. Painter admitted that he possessed two loaded 9mm pistols that were purchased by his late wife. The pistols were discovered when Mr. Painter’s vehicles were repossessed by a Michigan bail bondsman. Mr. Painter was convicted previously of Second Degree Murder in Tennessee and Attempted Murder in LaPorte, Indiana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Schultz.
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Westfield Man Sentenced to 9 years in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - William Moit, age 72, who was formerly a resident of Rensselaer, Indiana -- but resided in Westfield, Indiana when arrested -- was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after his plea of guilty to receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Moit was sentenced to serve a term of 108 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and he was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.
According to documents in this case, Moit, who was convicted in Jasper County, Indiana in 2000 for possessing child pornography and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, was charged, in the federal indictment in 2017, with receiving child pornography. Between November 2014 and October 2015, Moit knowingly used a computer to receive 111 images and 157 videos depicting minors, some of which were under 12 years of age, engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana State Police. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill R. Koster.
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Man Charged in Criminal Complaint with Griffith RobberyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Ryan Smith, 56, was charged in a criminal complaint with the September 22, 2019 robbery, affecting interstate commerce, of Family Dollar in Griffith, Indiana, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Prosecuting violent crime is one of my top priorities. My office, along with our law enforcement partners, including the FBI, have a strong and continuing commitment to investigate and prosecute acts of violence such as those alleged in today’s charges.”
The criminal complaint alleges that Smith entered the Family Dollar store located on Ridge Road in Griffith, Indiana, on September 22, 2019. Smith is alleged to have given a note to an employee stating that he was committing a robbery. Smith is further alleged to have displayed a large knife and held it against an employee while ordering the employee to open a cash register from which he stole approximately $190 in cash.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Gang Response Investigative Team and Griffith Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.
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Fort Wayne Woman Sentenced to 63 MonthsRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jermesha Davis, age 28, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Davis was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, on July 28, 2018, Jermesha Davis was followed by Fort Wayne Police Department officers from her apartment to a residence where a search warrant was being executed as part of an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation. Davis arrived driving a vehicle belonging to one of the occupants of the location being searched. Davis was also found to be in possession of a cell phone that the Fort Wayne Police Department had been tracking in connection with the investigation. It was determined that Davis did not have a valid driver’s license. A subsequent search of Davis’ home produced quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine as well as a cutting agent often used by drug traffickers. Law enforcement also located two firearms in the kitchen.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 117 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Brandon Buchanan, age 29, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady upon his plea of guilty for maintaining a drug-involved premises and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Buchanan was sentenced to 117 months imprisonment followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in March 2018 a search warrant was served on Buchanan’s residence in Fort Wayne. During the search, investigators located a loaded .357 caliber revolver, fentanyl, crack cocaine, marijuana, hypodermic syringes, approximately $1000 in US currency, evidence of narcotics dealing, along with multiple calibers of ammunition and magazine for various firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey R. Speith and Anthony Geller.
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Twice Deported Felon SentencedRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Joel Sanchez-Lopez, age 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady for illegal reentry of a removed alien, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Joel Sanchez-Lopez was sentenced to 15 months in prison and will be deported upon completion of his federal sentence
According to documents in this case, Mr. Sanchez-Lopez is a citizen of Mexico. In 2008, Sanchez-Lopez was charged and sentenced for felony domestic battery. In 2009, Sanchez-Lopez was found operating a vehicle while intoxicated at 3 times the legal limit (.24%) while on probation supervision for the felony domestic battery offense. He was deported back to Mexico in 2010. However, Sanchez-Lopez returned to the United States in 2014 without legal authorization, and in violation of the 2010 deportation order. In 2017, he was charged with another domestic battery offense which was later dismissed, and he was again deported to Mexico in November 2017. Sometime in July 2018, Sanchez-Lopez returned to the U.S. without legal authorization and in violation of the 2010 deportation order. He was found to be illegally present in the U.S. after he was charged in December of 2018 with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he got into a verbal altercation with his wife, drove off at a high rate of speed and crashed into a ditch. His blood alcohol was almost 3 times the legal limit (.238%) for the State of Indiana.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Nokes.
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South Bend, Indiana Man Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Mark Peppers, age 35, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Peppers was sentenced to 120 months in prison, 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,250.
According to documents in this case, in August of 2017, Mr. Peppers was in possession of a micro SD card that contained videos of a naked 4-year old female child which displayed close up images of the child’s private parts. In a plea agreement, Mr. Peppers admitted that the images were in fact child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Maciejczyk.
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Kouts, Indiana Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Michael Thomas, age 42, of Kouts, Indiana, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for four counts of mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Thomas was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Thomas was charged in 2018 with four counts of mail fraud for his role in a scheme to defraud insurance companies by arson fires. On September 28, 2018, a jury found him guilty of all counts. Today, the Court also ordered him to pay restitution to State Farm Insurance Company in the amount of $426,227.31 and Foremost Insurance Company in the amount of $115,522.27.
According to documents in this case, from 2004 through 2013, Thomas and others executed a scheme to defraud insurance companies by setting fires to mobile homes in a mobile home park located in North Judson, Indiana. Thomas and associates submitted insurance claims immediately after the fires resulting in insurance payouts totaling $616,749.58. The first fire occurred at 2691 Julia Drive on September 17, 2004, a mobile home owned and occupied by Thomas. In November 2010, several more fires occurred: a home and garage owned by Thomas and his wife at 5081 South 275 West Street; a home at 5326 South A Street; and two unoccupied mobile homes not owned by Thomas at 2729 West Airstream Court and 5370 Holiday Street. In the early part of 2013, still another mobile home owned by Thomas caught fire located at 5101 South 275 West. Finally, on April 16, 2013, firefighters extinguished a fire at Mr. Thomas’ 2691 Julia Drive property, but firefighters needed to return several hours later to extinguish another fire at the home.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Indiana State Fire Marshal and the Indiana State Police. The case was tried by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Barrett, and later handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Hays
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Florida Man Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Ivan Jaimes-Molina, age 25, of Fort Meade, Florida was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Ivan Jaimes-Molina was sentenced to 120 months inmprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Jaimes-Molina had 397.1 grams of actual methamphetamine (at 100% purity) in the trunk of his vehicle. The defendant also had a firearm in the trunk near the methamphetamine and marijuana he planned to distribute.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
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Duo Found Guilty of Heroin Conspiracy After 4-Day TrialRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jerry Harris, age 38, of South Bend, Indiana and David Gibson, age 47, of Chicago, Illinois were found guilty, late September 19th, after a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jon DeGuilio, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
In March of 2018 Jerry Harris and Gibson were indicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin. The jury deliberated about three hours and found them both guilty of conspiring to distribute over a kilogram of heroin in the South Bend area. In an earlier case (United States v. Corey Harris, et al.), several individuals who sold heroin for Harris and Gibson pled guilty; some have been sentenced and others are awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “I have directed my Office to focus on individuals who distribute heroin and other dangerous opiate narcotics, especially in light of the opioid crisis that exists across the United States. This successful prosecution was the result of cooperative efforts throughout local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. We will aggressively investigate, prosecute and hold accountable those who flood our streets with these drugs to make our communities safer.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Jerry Harris and Gibson conspired with at least six others persons from that earlier case to sell heroin in and around the Miami Hills area of South Bend. The conspirators shared a cellphone that customers called to arrange purchases of heroin. The evidence showed that undercover law enforcement officers purchased heroin from members of the conspiracy on 28 separate occasions between March and October of 2017. Phone records show that the shared cellphones had over 80,000 contacts during the time of the conspiracy. The investigation included search warrants on five houses and cars. Harris and Gibson directed the sales conducted by those who sold heroin to the undercover officers.
Mr. Jerry Harris and Mr. Gibson are scheduled to be sentenced on January 30 of 2020. Both face a minimum of ten years to life incarceration. Gibson was recently convicted of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime in Wyoming and is currently serving a twelve year sentence.
The case was investigated by the DEA and ATF with assistance from several local police agencies including the St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit, Indiana State Police, South Bend Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, the Elkhart Police and ICE unit, the St. Joseph County Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Molly Donnelly.
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Attorney General William Barr Announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II as One of New U.S. Attorneys to Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the appointment of the following nine U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC): David Anderson, Northern District of California; Scott Brady, Western District of Pennsylvania; Maria Chapa Lopez, Middle District of Florida; Halsey Frank, District of Maine; Erica MacDonald, District of Minnesota; Christina Nolan, District of Vermont; Zach Terwilliger, Eastern District of Virginia; Tom Kirsch, Northern District of Indiana; and Nicholas Trutanich, District of Nevada.
“I am pleased to appoint these nine outstanding U.S. Attorneys to this key advisory committee. I am confident that they will serve with distinction,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The U.S. Attorneys who comprise the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee play a critical role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s important work, including its efforts to reduce violent crime, combat the opioid crisis, protect the most vulnerable, and enforce the rule of law.”
U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “I am honored that Attorney General Barr has appointed me to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. The Committee plays a central role in implementing new programs and policies for the Department of Justice. It is a privilege for me to be able to serve the Department and Attorney General in this manner.”
The Attorney General also thanked the following U.S. Attorneys who have completed their terms and are rotating off the committee: Louis Franklin, Middle District of Alabama; Robert Higdon, Eastern District of North Carolina; John Huber, District of Utah; Rob Hur, District of Maryland; Jeff Jensen, Eastern District of Missouri; Andrew Lelling, District of Massachusetts; Joshua Minkler, Southern District of Indiana; Richard Moore, Southern District of Alabama; Bryan Schroder, District of Alaska; and David Weiss, District of Delaware.
Chaired by U.S Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, the AGAC represents the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management, and operational issues impacting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
Attorney General Barr also announced that U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox, a current member, will replace U.S. Attorney John Huber as the Vice Chair of the AGAC.
The bios of all U.S. Attorneys are available here.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch’s Bio can be found at this link:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/meet-us-attorney
South Bend, Indiana Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Nehemiah Felders, age 29, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Mr. Felders was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, a grand jury indicted Felders in September of 2018. A jury convicted him of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony following a two-day trial held in in May 2019. Evidence at trial showed that a handgun was found on a couch when the Indiana State Police executed a search warrant in South Bend. Three Indiana State Police officers testified that Felders admitted possessing the handgun.
Mr. Felders has twice been previously convicted of felonies, and has been convicted of five misdemeanors.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Indiana State Police. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Schaffer.
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New Haven Man Convicted Following 4-Day Jury TrialRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Adonnis Carswell, age 34, of New Haven, Indiana was found guilty by a jury on 4 counts as charged in a Superseding Indictment; maintaining a drug involved premises, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, presided over this four day jury trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, in June 2017, a search warrant was executed on a residence in New Haven, Indiana where Carswell lived. During the search agents found numerous firearms, to include a Smith and Wesson pistol, a Scorpion Pistol and a rifle which contained a 100 round drum magazine, 124 rounds of ammunition, over 60 grams of heroin, along with other indicia of drug distribution (packaging, scales, and over $25,000 in cash). While agents were executing the search warrant, Carswell attempted to bribe an agent by offering the agent money to dispose of heroin, which did not happen.
Carswell’s sentencing will be set at a later date.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Indiana State Police with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Geller and Sarah Nokes.
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Gary Woman Ordered to Pay $195,602.09 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Felicia Blount, 44, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon following her plea of guilty to health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Blount was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay 195,602.09 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Felicia Blount owned and operated Lending Hand Transportation, a company that provided transportation for medical appointments and services. Blount and co-defendant Charlotte Hunter, a company secretary, defrauded Indiana Medicaid by submitting claims for multiple trips to Indianapolis without corresponding medical claims. The investigation revealed that the defendants submitted bills for trips not taken, inflated mileage, billed multiple-passenger trips as individual single-passenger trips, and altered travel documentation. The fraudulent claims submitted to Indiana Medicaid equaled $443,917 and Indiana taxpayers paid Blount and Hunter $195,602.09 for those false claims. Earlier this year, Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and was sentenced to two years supervised release and ordered to pay $195,602.09 in restitution.
“Defrauding the healthcare system steals from hard working tax payers while compromising the integrity of the system,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “We will continue to work with the Indiana Attorney General and all other federal, state and local agencies to aggressively prosecute these cases.”
“Indiana Medicaid serves more than one million Hoosiers across the state,” Attorney General Curtis Hill said. “Many of these individuals are children, the disabled, and the less fortunate among us. To commit Medicaid fraud is to take advantage of our most vulnerable while also defrauding hardworking Hoosier taxpayers. Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works diligently to pursue those who abuse the system and commit fraud against the state so that they may be brought to justice.”
This case was referred by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and investigated by the Indiana Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General. This case was handled by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
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Latin King Gang Member Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Miguel Marines, 25, of East Chicago, Indiana, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 66 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Marines was held responsible for activity involving at least 2 kilograms but less than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine distributed by the Latin Kings street gang.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, have also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Allen County Receives High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) DesignationRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director Chuck Porucznik announce the addition of Allen County to the Indiana HIDTA.
Created by Congress in 1988, the HIDTA task force program, which is under the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), creates a mechanism for coordination of federal, state, local and tribal resources to combat drug trafficking in designated regions of the country.
The HIDTA designation for Allen County will allow access to federal resources to combat drug distribution and increase enforcement efforts. Law enforcement agencies will now access drug trafficking issues and create Allen County specific initiatives that will laser focus on outcomes and performance. HIDTA provides unprecedented national connectivity to access drug threats and trends throughout the country.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “I am pleased that we are able to expand the footprint of the Indiana HIDTA to Allen County. The HIDTA program is a tremendous asset to Indiana to reduce drug distribution networks grip on the area therefore reducing other violent crimes like gang/cartel violence and gun offenses.”
HIDTA Director Chuck Porucznik said, “The addition of Allen County to the Indiana HIDTA allows 5 counties in the more populated areas of the state to gain focused attention and federal resources to reduce drug related activity and violence. The goal of the HIDTA program is simple, disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through law enforcement coordination.”
Allen County Sheriff David J. Gladieux said, “Allen County receiving the HIDTA designation is a giant step forward in the battle against illegal narcotics distribution. The federal resources available because of this designation, will prove invaluable not just to law enforcement, but to all of the citizens that live and work in Allen County. The collaborative effort that this designation brings to the table, by allowing Allen County to join forces and share federal resources with 4 other HIDTA designated counties, will undoubtedly produce significant results in the war on illegal narcotics.”
Fort Wayne Police Chief Steve Reed said, “We already have a great relationship with various federal agencies and have worked closely with each agency to combat drugs within our community. We look forward to enhancing that relationship with our inclusion in the HIDTA program. Allen County is grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work and look forward to gaining valuable resources to enhance this effort.”
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Hobart Woman SentencedRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Lucy Owens, 42, of Hobart, Indiana, was sentenced before District Court Judge Joseph S. VanBokkelen, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. Owens was convicted on 7 counts of wire fraud after 5-day jury trial that took place in May 2018.
Owens received a sentence of 57 months in prison, 1 year of supervised release and was ordered to pay 820,483.66 in restitution with $324,438.50 of that amount to be owed jointly and severally with co-defendant Kirk Stroh.
“The great work of the Hammond Police Department has brought this case to a successful conclusion with an order of restitution and significant prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners will continue to hold people accountable for their actions when they choose to take advantage of others.”
According to records in the case, between 2010 and 2015, Owens diverted over $800,000 from her employer, a Hammond-based freight services company, through two schemes to defraud. In one scheme, Owens used her position as the company’s accounts payable clerk to fraudulently pay over $460,000 in personal credit card bills from the company’s bank account. In the second scheme, Owens used her position as the administrator of the company’s diesel fuel card program to help two individuals obtain over $330,000 in unauthorized cash advances at truck stops. One of the individuals, Kirk Stroh, also from Hobart, Indiana, was a truck driver for a rival trucking company. Owens helped Stroh obtain over $290,000 in fraudulent cash advances at a truck stop in Lake Station, Indiana, in increments of $800 per day. Stroh, a co-defendant in the case, who previously pled guilty, split the proceeds with Owens. In addition to paying her personal credit card debt funds stolen from her employer, Owens used her portion of the stolen funds to pay for frequent family vacations, dining, clothing, jewelry, home improvements, and other items.
This case was investigated by the Hammond Police Department and handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Abizer Zanzi and Nathaniel Whalen.
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Portland, Indiana Man Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Zackary Galloway, 28, of Portland, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Galloway was sentenced to a total of 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Portland Police Department and Jay County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
Columbia City Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Shane Leazier II, 33, of Columbia City, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Leazier was sentenced to a total of 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Fort Wayne FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
Whiting Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Restitution to the City of HammondRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II and the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Jeffrey Bossart Clark, announce that Kenneth Morrison, age 69, of Whiting, Indiana, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on September 5, 2019. Morrison was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release, and ordered to pay over $54,000 in restitution to the City of Hammond.
Morrison was found guilty of interstate transportation of stolen property. According to documents and testimony in this case, Morrison was convicted of stealing the Monon Bridge, located in Hammond, Indiana, and transporting the stolen metal parts across state lines, which he sold those metal parts for his personal benefit. The former bridge had spanned the Grand Calumet River. Morrison’s sentence was enhanced due to the eligibility of the bridge for the National Register of Historic Places.
The case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Inspector General, Environmental and the U.S Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service with the assistance of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Richard J. Powers, U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Toi Denise Houston.
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Hobart Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Carlos Rodriguez, 42, of Hobart, Indiana, was sentenced before District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, on September 5, 2019, following his plea of guilty to possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1000 feet of a school and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Rodriguez received a sentence of 84 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in this case, on December 4, 2018, Law Enforcement executed a search warrant on Rodriguez’s residence in Hobart, Indiana and recovered cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia within the home and vehicles on the property. The residence was within 1000 feet of a functioning school. Also on the property were firearms that Rodriguez possessed in furtherance of his drug crime.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Hobart Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.
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Woodburn Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Charles Tranter, 35, of Woodburn, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, on September 4, 2019, after pleading guilty to the receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Tranter was sentenced to a total of 60 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, an Indictment was filed against Tranter on March 22, 2017, charging him with the receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors from July, 2012 through October, 2015. During this time, Tranter amassed more than 600 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
Fort Wayne Woman Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Wendi Flores aka Wendi Collins, 39, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Ms. Flores was sentenced to a total of 84 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, there were two controlled buys of ½ ounce of methamphetamine from Ms. Flores. Flores was stopped by the Fort Wayne Police Department and they located 16 grams of methamphetamine on her person. She has six prior convictions, all for controlled substance related offenses including one conviction for dealing in controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
Extortion Scheme Mastermind SentencedRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Kelly Custer, 57, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Kelly Custer was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $1,463,437.50 in restitution to the victims of her crime.
U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “We will not tolerate extortion or preying on the trust of others, in this case elderly victims of these perpetrators. Schemes like these lead to the financial and emotional distress of victims. My Office in coordination with our law enforcement partners will aggressively prosecute individuals who harass and torment elderly victims with these egregious schemes.”
"Today’s sentence sends a strong message to scammers such as Ms. Custer that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to hold accountable those who prey upon some of our most vulnerable citizens – in this case hard working seniors who thought they were helping a friend in need and that their own lives, and those of their family, were in danger if they didn’t,” said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division.
According to documents filed in this case, on March 19, 2015, a victim couple reported to law enforcement that they were being extorted by the mafia. The victims provided information detailing an extortion scheme that started in 2007 when they lived in Fort Wayne and continued after their move to Florida.
According to the victims, the extortion began after they were informed by Kelly Custer that she and her family faced death threats from the mafia and she needed help paying them off to protect herself and her family. The scheme then evolved when Kelly Custer then convinced the victims that their lives, their friends’ and families’ lives as well as her life would be in jeopardy if they did not pay the debt to the mafia. The victims initially received all the information concerning the extortion through Kelly Custer, in that she relayed the threats and demands to them personally. After the victims moved to Florida, however the threats from Kelly Custer continued in the form of text messages, causing the victims to fear the messages came from actual mafia members. In February of 2015, the victims were informed that Kelly Custer had been killed as a result of problems she had with the mafia; however they continued to receive threatening text messages from Kelly Custer’s phone by persons identifying themselves as members of the mafia.
The victims made the demanded payments primarily to Kelly Custer, but also directed payments to three other co-defendants, Kelly Custer’s children, on numerous occasions as instructed in the threatening text messages. The victims reported that in response to the threatening communications, they had paid “the mafia” approximately 1.5 million dollars over the past seven years, and approximately $250,000-$300,000 dollars since moving to Florida. According to the victims, in response to threats they usually paid between $3,000 and $10,000 at a time and on at least one occasion they paid $50,000 after receiving a threatening message indicating that, if they did not make that payment, a friend’s daughter would be killed.
Co-defendants William Custer, Jr., Ashley Custer, and Sidney Custer were previously sentenced following their pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and each was ordered to repay restitution to the victims in the amounts of $119,127.99; $118,583.16; and $14,399.78 respectively.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
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