Northern District of Indiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kokomo Man Sentenced to 188 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Keith Hall, 27 years old, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Hall was sentenced to 188 months in prison, 15 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $250 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act of 2018.
According to documents in the case, Hall possessed 18 still images and 168 videos depicting child sexual abuse material. Hall had previously been convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in Miami County, Indiana.
“We thank Miami County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Sinkovics, Chief Deputy Peter Diedricks, and their office, along with the agents of the Homeland Security Investigations, the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC), and the Miami County Sheriff’s Office for partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to help make Hoosiers safer to live, work, and raise their families,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Highland Physician Sentenced to 97 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Bethany A. Cataldi, D.O., 54 years old, of Chesterton, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to healthcare fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Cataldi was sentenced to 97 months imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $19,138,245.43 in restitution. As part of her plea agreement, Cataldi was required to forfeit significant assets, including jewelry, vehicles, musical instruments, and the contents of a number of bank accounts. Cataldi also agreed to sell real estate and other luxury assets purchased using the proceeds of her crime in order to fulfill her obligations to repay the fraudulently obtained funds.
According to documents in the case, Cataldi – a physician, and the sole owner of the Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery in Highland, Indiana – billed Medicare and private insurance for thousands of balloon sinuplasty procedures that she did not perform. A balloon sinuplasty is a procedure designed to treat chronic sinusitis by using a small, flexible balloon catheter to widen and drain blocked sinus passages. Cataldi sought approximately $50,000,000 for these non-existent procedures for which she was actually paid almost $20 million. Approximately $460,000 of the fraudulently obtained funds were paid by individual patients in the form of co-insurance payments.
“Doctors who sign up with Medicare and private insurance companies are in a position of trust. Bethany Cataldi abused that trust – as well as the trust of her patients, many of whom were senior citizens – by filing fraudulent claims. This sentence reflects that doctors who engage in such outrageous behavior will face significant consequences in this District,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “My thanks to our federal law enforcement partners whose excellent and determined work led to the sentence that was handed down today.”
“Billing for thousands of procedures that were never performed is a profound breach of the trust placed in medical professionals,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This scheme siphoned millions of dollars from Medicare and private insurers and even targeted individual patients for payment. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover health care fraud and ensure that those who exploit patients and federal programs are held fully accountable.”
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s healthcare system is a top priority for the FBI. Schemes like this erode public trust and siphon critical funding away from legitimate medical providers and patients,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to protect public funds and ensure those who commit healthcare fraud face justice.”
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Francis Sohn prosecuted the case.
Nicaraguan National Sentenced to Time ServedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Donald Obando-Obando, 40 years old, a citizen of Nicaragua and a resident of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to felony use of a false Social Security Number, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Obando-Obando was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $4,996.11 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Obando-Obando is in the United States illegally. He used another person’s name and Social Security Number to obtain a bank account and employment.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 72 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jaron Williams, 44 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Williams was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Williams sold fentanyl to another person on two occasions in the fall of 2024. In December 2024, officers executed a search warrant at his home and recovered cocaine, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine. Officers also recovered four handguns, a shotgun, and over $64,000 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department, the South Bend Police Department, the Michigan City Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 216 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund sentenced Robert Crayton, 48 years old, of Evanston, Illinois, to 216 months in prison after Crayton was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Crayton was sentenced to 216 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release.
On March 14, 2023, officers of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department stopped Robert Crayton on I-65. During a search of Crayton’s car, officers found approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine hidden behind the center console and under the front passenger area floor mat. Crayton’s travel plans showed that he had flown from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Atlanta, Georgia and was driving back to Illinois when apprehended by law enforcement. Crayton has two prior felony drug distribution convictions, including a prior federal conviction for distribution of crack cocaine near a public elementary school.
This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Drug Enforcement Administration’s Merrillville Field Office, with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration’s South Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Ambris Saravanan.
South Bend Man Found Guilty by JuryRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Octavius Wentland, 22 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of illegal possession of a machinegun after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison Time for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Miguel Bermudez-Herrera, 48 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony reentry of a removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Bermudez-Herrera was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant unlawfully remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Bermudez-Herrera was previously removed from the United States in 1997 and 2008. He has been detained since his arrest on October 10, 2025.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Valparaiso Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 190 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Michael O. Beers, 39 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Beers was sentenced to 190 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in October 2024, officers found Beers unconscious behind the steering wheel of a running vehicle parked in a gas station parking lot. When officers went to check on Beers, they found a loaded handgun holstered on his hip. A search of his car revealed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl, a digital scale, and other drug items. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and potentially lethal, and Beers intended to sell hundreds of thousands of lethal doses of fentanyl in the community. In addition to his armed drug trafficking, Beers has a significant criminal history with prior weapons and drug convictions, making his possession of the firearm unlawful.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison TimeRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Eli Martinez-Martinez, age 39, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Martinez-Martinez was sentenced to time served, based upon his detention since his arrest on September 5, 2025.
According to documents in the case, Martinez-Martinez was previously removed from the United States in 2011 and 2022.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff.
Settlement for $1.7 Million with Former Physician Don J. Wagoner and His Business Entity for Fraudulently Billing the Indiana Medicaid ProgramRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred announced today a settlement for nearly $1.7 million to resolve civil claims of the United States of America and the State of Indiana against former physician Don J. Wagoner, age 89, of Burlington, Indiana, and his business entity, Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C.
According to documents in this case, during 2011-2013, former physician Don J. Wagoner practiced medicine at Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C., which Mr. Wagoner solely owned. The Wagoner defendants had a routine practice of requiring patients seeking a prescription for opioid pills or other pain medicine to submit a urine sample for qualitative testing for the presence or absence of nine or more drugs or drug classes. Using a multiplexed screening kit costing defendants no more than approximately ten dollars, defendants tested each single urine sample for the same patient on the same day using the simple kit. Defendants then billed Indiana Medicaid and received $171.27 or more per patient, even though Indiana Medicaid billing rules only allowed them to bill $20.83 per patient. Defendants concealed this fraud by falsely certifying to Indiana Medicaid that they had collected and separately analyzed nine or more urine samples from each patient, when in fact they only had collected and analyzed one urine sample. Defendants perpetrated this fraudulent scheme for over 5,000 claims, and received a total overpayment from Indiana Medicaid of nearly $1 million, which they refused to repay. On December 29, 2017, the United States and the State of Indiana filed a Complaint under the False Claims Act to recover the overpayment resulting from the fraudulent scheme, and also civil penalties. The settlement announced today resolves that case.
The Indiana Medicaid program provides healthcare for low income, often uninsured, Indiana residents who cannot otherwise afford needed medical care. Indiana Medicaid is jointly funded by the United States and the State of Indiana. The federal False Claims Act, and the Indiana Medicaid False Claims Act, allows the federal government and the State of Indiana to recover the amount of the false claims plus civil penalties. A small portion of recoveries under the federal False Claims Act, three percent, is used to fund the cost of future health care fraud investigations and cases.
In 2013, defendant Don J. Wagoner permanently surrendered his licenses to prescribe drugs and practice medicine in connection with a state criminal investigation of his opioid‑prescribing practices, which resulted in felony drug dealing convictions of Mr. Wagoner.
“Although they no longer are endangering vulnerable Medicaid patients by practicing medicine, former physician Don Wagoner cannot be allowed to retain the fruits of his fraudulent Medicaid claims,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to make it a priority to pursue investigations and cases to recover funds that were fraudulently received from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
The settlement was reached in a case against Don J. Wagoner and Wagoner Medical Center, L.L.C. filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. Lead counsel for plaintiff United States in this litigation and negotiation was Assistant United States Attorney Wayne T. Ault.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison TimeRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Manuel De Jesus Tinoco-Calderon, 36 years old, of Mexico and a resident of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Tinoco-Calderon was sentenced to time served. He has been in custody since August 15, 2025.
According to documents in the case, Tinoco-Calderon was previously removed from the United States in September of 2007.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the Notre Dame Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 2 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Kerry T. Hancock, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Hancock was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment followed by 8 months of supervised release with the first 3 months served on home detention and ordered to pay $115,864.84 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Hancock worked as a bank teller in Mishawaka when he forged the signature of a bank account holder to withdraw $185,864,84 in cash from a rarely used bank account. He then stashed the stolen bundles of cash in his house.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
Warsaw Man Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 22, 2026, Gary Schmucker, 47 years old, of Warsaw, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Schmucker was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in the months leading up to late April 2024, Schmucker regularly and repeatedly used methamphetamine and marijuana. During this time, he also possessed at least three firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle modified to fire rapidly. Law enforcement was called to his property on the morning of April 28, 2024, after he had used methamphetamine throughout the previous day and night while armed. Schmucker refused to leave his house and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement for several hours before he was finally detained.
“This case is an example of how collaboration between state, local, and federal law enforcement can achieve the most effective available response to drug and gun offenses. We thank Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney J. Brad Voelz and his office, along with the agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Nappanee Police Department, and Warsaw Police Department for partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to help make Hoosiers safer to live, work, and raise their families,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The case was prosecuted by Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey and Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Venezuelan National Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 22, 2026, Guillermo Zarate-Martinez, 29 years old, of Venezuela, residing in Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Zarate-Martinez was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
According to documents in the case, Zarate-Martinez is a citizen of Venezuela who was in the United States illegally in August 2024 when he was found in possession of three firearms in Mishawaka, Indiana. Zarate-Martinez had the firearms when he and several other individuals went to a local business and threatened the owner in an attempt to recover an alleged debt of money.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Luke N. Reilander.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 300 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jason L. Pea, 32 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children and Distributing Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Pea was sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by lifetime supervision and ordered to pay $12,000 restitution. Pea was ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000 pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to documents in the case, in the fall of 2024, Pea began communicating via social media with a thirteen-year-old female in Missouri. Pea offered to pay the child for sexually explicit photos and videos. After the child complied, Pea threatened to publish the photos and videos if the child did not return the money or provide him the names and contact information for her friends. The child returned a portion of the money; however, Pea distributed a sexually explicit video of the minor to another minor child. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at Pea’s residence in Allen County, Indiana, and found the communication devices that Pea used to commit the offenses. Pea was a registered sex offender, having been convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in 2016.
“Jason Pea reached out through the internet to inflict devastating abuse on an innocent girl living hundreds of miles away,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “He compounded this heinous crime by threatening to distribute the products of that abuse to blackmail the minor victim into providing access to her friends. And as a final twist, he ignored the minor victim’s compliance with that blackmail and distributed the abusive materials to another minor anyway. He did all this despite having already once been convicted and punished for a sexual offense. Thankfully, the excellent work of our law enforcement and prosecutorial teams resulted in a long prison sentence and a lifetime of court-ordered supervision that will stop this repeat sex offender from preying on our children for the rest of his life. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts.”
“Every image and video of child sexual abuse represents a real child who has been harmed and demands a decisive law-enforcement response,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This 300-month sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused and sends a clear message that those who prey on children and distribute this material will be aggressively pursued and held fully accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 262 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 21, 2026, Santiago Ortiz-Ruvalcaba, 30 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to five counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Ortiz-Ruvalcaba was sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Ortiz-Ruvalcaba sold methamphetamine to buyers on five occasions from November 2023 to January 2025. During one of the sales, Ortiz-Ruvalcaba also sold fentanyl and two firearms. During a search of Ortiz-Ruvalcaba’s house, police found a scale for weighing drugs, baggies, ammunition, and a handgun. Ortiz-Ruvalcaba has associations with the Latin Kings gang and multiple prior felony convictions.
“Ortiz-Ruvalcaba trafficked both drugs and guns—an extremely dangerous mix,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “The sentence imposed today sends a clear message: The scourges of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and violence are not welcome in our community, and criminals like Ortiz-Ruvalcaba will be brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the Pokagon Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 57 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 16, 2026, Verrhontez L. Williams, 40 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Williams was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $168,744.00 in restitution to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
According to documents in the case, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020, Williams used other people’s personal identifying information to apply for Indiana unemployment benefits and benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The cash benefits were deposited onto pre-paid debit cards that were mailed to Williams’s house in South Bend. Williams used the debit cards to withdraw cash at banks throughout the city. During the course of Williams’s scheme, at least 23 people’s names were used to apply for benefits totaling $168,744.00.
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor OIG, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – On January 15, 2026, Kevin James Miller, 54 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Miller was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Restitution is left open, but to be determined within 90 days from the sentencing date.
According to documents in the case, law enforcement officers discovered that Miller was downloading child sexual abuse material from the internet. During the execution of a search warrant at Miller’s residence, agents discovered evidence on digital devices showing that Miller was purchasing and downloading child sexual abuse material. Over 1,500 images and 7 videos of child sexual abuse material were recovered from Miller. The materials included images of toddlers and prepubescent minors engaged in sexual acts and nudity. Miller was a registered sex offender and previously had been convicted twice of possession of child pornography and child exploitation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Merrillville Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $883,166.92 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – On January 13, 2026, Armon A. Hill, 46 years old, of Merrillville, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Hill was sentenced to 30 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $883,166.92 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, between April 2020 and May 2022, Hill submitted a series of fraudulent loan applications under the Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan programs. Hill’s applications contained false information and forged tax documents purporting to show that Hill operated a successful business with multiple employees, when in fact Hill had no such business and had no employees. Based on Hill’s fraudulent representations, he received a total of approximately $840,000 in Covid-19 grant and loan funding to which he was not entitled. Hill spent the funds on personal expenses unrelated to any legitimate business activity, including on international travel and high-end retail shopping.
“Armon Hill took advantage of government programs designed to help small businesses survive the Covid-19 pandemic, using hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fund his own lavish lifestyle,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “As this case demonstrates, fraud and abuse of government programs are not tolerated in the Northern District of Indiana.”
“At a time when struggling small businesses were depending on emergency relief to survive the economic fallout of COVID-19, Armon Hill chose to exploit a national crisis for personal gain,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “By submitting fraudulent applications to the SBA, he diverted critical taxpayer-funded resources away from legitimate business owners who played by the rules. Pandemic relief funds were not a windfall—they were a lifeline—and abusing them is a federal crime with serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.
Gary Man Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Carlos Alvarez Morin, 36 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to possessing ammunition as an illegal alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Morin was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Morin, an illegal alien, discharged twenty rounds of ammunition using an AK-47 rifle from his backyard in a residential area, all while intoxicated.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Milford Man Sentenced to Time ServedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Douglas Thrams, 24 years old, of Milford, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to making interstate communication with a threat to injure, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
After serving 10 months and 14 days in custody, Thrams was sentenced to time served followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in January 2025, Thrams posted a series of threatening videos to his TikTok account. In the videos, Thrams advocated for the bombing of government buildings and the assassination of politicians.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Goshen Police Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Indiana Woman Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – On January 8, 2026, Christine Reese, age 62, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Reese was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $268,746.37 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Reese falsely claimed that she was licensed as a clinical psychologist and falsely represented that she held the degree of Doctor of Psychology. In reality, Reese did not have these qualifications but did have over ten previous felony convictions. Using forged and fraudulent documents, Reese convinced Company A, a mental health services provider in Munster, Indiana, to hire her to work as a clinical therapist. Reese also obtained employment at another mental health services provider using false qualifications. Reese conducted appointments with patients at Company A, including Indiana Medicaid recipients and children. Later, Reese continued to claim she was a psychologist and conducted appointments with patients out of her home, using the business name of Sanctuary Counseling. Reese continued to fraudulently bill for the services she claimed to provide. As a result of her scheme Reese defrauded Indiana Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Plans out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In the course of her scheme, Reese stole the identities of three different legitimate medical professionals. Reese used the names and license numbers of these practitioners to enroll herself in Indiana Medicaid and submit bills.
“This extensive fraud not only contributed to the strain on healthcare programs designed to help the most vulnerable among Indiana’s citizens, but callously preyed upon patients deceived into thinking the therapy they were receiving was from a qualified professional, said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred, “My thanks to the state and federal investigators whose work led to the significant and necessary sentence that was handed down today.”
“The public relies on the integrity of the health care system, and fraud undermines that trust,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that health care fraud will not be tolerated. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our state and federal partners to protect patients and safeguard the health care system.”
“This case underscores the serious risks posed by individuals who exploit vulnerable patients and taxpayer-funded programs through fraud,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “Providing therapy services without proper credentials endangers beneficiaries—especially children—and erodes trust in our health care system. Yesterday’s sentence reflects our commitment to protecting patients and holding those who engage in health care fraud accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff.
Elkhart Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Steven Lerma, III, 25 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Lerma was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police found Lerma in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine that held 32 rounds of ammunition. Lerma had previously been convicted of felony theft of a firearm and felony domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and was thus prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart Police Department and the Goshen Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Adam L. Mildred Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of IndianaRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Today, the Hon. Adam L. Mildred was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady. U.S. Attorney Mildred was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and then confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 2025.
U.S. Attorney (USA) Mildred is a native of Fort Wayne and a life-long Hoosier. After graduating from Concordia Lutheran High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and his Juris Doctor from IU’s Maurer School of Law. Mr. Mildred then spent his entire career as a professional prosecutor. Over 28 years of service in Allen and Noble Counties, he prosecuted and tried over 200 cases, including homicides, armed robberies, drug crimes, and other serious felonies. He also served in several leadership roles, including two years of service as Chief Deputy of the Noble County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Over his decades of service, USA Mildred has lent his talents to numerous other institutions in Fort Wayne and beyond. Until recently, he served as an Executive Board Member on the Indiana Association of Certified Accident Investigators. He has served as an Adjunct Criminal Law and Procedure Instructor at the Fort Wayne Police Department and Northeast Indiana Public Safety Academy. And he has long served in leadership roles in various civic groups.
“It is an honor to assume the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said USA Mildred. “During my time as a state prosecutor, I saw firsthand the kind of devastation that crime can cause our communities. I am humbled that President Trump and the U.S. Senate have placed their trust in me to use the powers of federal law enforcement to bring to justice anyone who would prey on our fellow Hoosiers. During my watch, this office will work closely with its state, local, and federal partners to prosecute any and all cartel members, terrorists, drug dealers, child sexual predators, immigration offenders, or violent criminals who violate federal law. I am confident that our efforts will protect the public safety, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that all citizens’ civil rights are safeguarded. My thanks go out to everyone who worked to give me this opportunity, and especially my family.”
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South Bend Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Elijah Suggs, 31 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Suggs was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, over the course of four transactions, Suggs sold a total of about two pounds of methamphetamine to another person in South Bend.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Lydia T. Lucius.
Hammond Man Sentenced to 27 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Yesterday, Anthony Juan McClendon, 30 years old, of Hammond, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
McClendon was sentenced to 27 months in prison, 4 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.
According to documents in the case, throughout the summer of 2024, McClendon organized and led a scheme to defraud area financial institutions using U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased. McClendon recruited additional individuals to the scheme, enabling him to expand the criminal enterprise to victimize banks and credit unions located throughout Northern Indiana. In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders. Prior to this offense, McClendon had received three state convictions for fraud against a financial institution in various Indiana counties.
McClendon is the third defendant to have been convicted and sentenced in this case. On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for his role in altering low-dollar Postal money orders to reflect higher dollar values at McClendon’s direction. On November 13, 2025, the court also sentenced co-Defendant Austin Hartman to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for his role in cashing altered money orders at a local credit union. Russell and Hartman were both ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the offense.
“In this case, Anthony Juan McClendon and his associates exploited the services of community banks and the United States Postal Service in an effort to make money through fraud” said Proctor. “As the court’s sentences in this case demonstrate, serial fraudsters will be met with serious consequences for their conduct in the Northern District of Indiana.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 264 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Maurice Williams, 30 years old, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Williams was sentenced to 264 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police in LaPorte County attempted to pull Williams over on the highway before he led police on a high-speed pursuit covering 13 miles until he crossed the Michigan border. Williams later drove back across the border into Indiana and crashed his car into the back of a semi-trailer. He ran away from the crash site but was caught. Police searched his car and found a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine, 52 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and 190 grams of methamphetamine. Williams’s criminal history included a felony drug trafficking conviction, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
“While wanted on a warrant from a different state, Maurice Williams transported a full menu of harmful drugs—methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine—into the Northern District of Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He then endangered the lives of numerous citizens on the highway while leading law enforcement on a multi-state high-speed chase that ended in a crash. The lengthy sentence imposed today makes clear that such disregard for the law and the safety of our community will not be tolerated. We should all thank the state, local, and federal partners who have brought this case to a just conclusion.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Three Honduran Nationals Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in a Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Three Honduran nationals are the latest co-conspirators to be sentenced to prison for their roles in an expansive bank fraud conspiracy resulting in significant losses to small businesses and community banks in more than a dozen states, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. The sentences were imposed by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon at hearings held on December 12 and 15, 2025.
Carlos Aquino Sosa, 26 years old, of Honduras, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was also ordered to pay $533,043 in restitution.
Edwin Palacios Sosa, 27 years old, of Honduras, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of illegal re-entry. He was also ordered to pay $533,043 in restitution.
Delvin Velasquez Romero, 33 years old, of Honduras, received a time-served sentence dating back to July 8, 2024 (approximately 17 months in custody) followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of illegal re-entry. He was also ordered to pay $233,569 in restitution.
These defendants have no legal status within the United States and will each be subject to a separate and immediate removal process upon release from prison.
According to documents in each case, on January 11, 2023, Aquino Sosa, Palacios Sosa, Velasquez Romero, and their co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 169 fraudulent paychecks totaling $233,569 at three branches of the same bank in the Northern District of Indiana. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a company that operates dairy farms in the Northern District of Indiana.
Almost six months later, on June 23, 2023, Aquino Sosa, Palacios Sosa, Velasquez Romero, and their co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at five branches of the same bank and three check cashing businesses in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“Aquino Sosa, Palacios Sosa, and Velasquez Romero participated in a far-reaching conspiracy that caused major financial harm to small businesses and community banks across the United States. Due to the unwavering efforts and collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions, these defendants were brought to justice for their respective roles in this scheme,” said Proctor. “The sentences imposed by the court send a message that there are real consequences for engaging in fraud, particularly in northwest Indiana.”
“The illicit actions of co-conspirators to commit bank fraud as they travel throughout the United States will not be tolerated,” said Matthew J. Scarpino, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago. “HSI will continue to partner with our fellow law enforcement agencies to disrupt these types of offenders and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
“Sophisticated fraud operations like this require investigative teamwork that spans state lines,” said Sergeant Jeremy Piers, Public Information Officer for the Indiana State Police. “From the first lead to the final arrest, our detectives, troopers, and support staff worked relentlessly alongside federal, state, and local partners to track the suspects’ movements, gather critical evidence, and bring this scheme to an end. This outcome reflects countless hours of coordination and determination, and it sends a clear message: when criminal activity crosses into Indiana, we will work tirelessly with our partners to protect our communities, our businesses, and our financial institutions.”
Co-conspirators Luis Banegas Rodriguez and Ricardo Castro Murillo were previously sentenced to 27 and 37 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in this scheme.
These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Nebraska State Police, and the Stanton County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 82 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Quervo Taylor, 26 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Taylor was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car that Taylor was driving. Taylor did not stop and led police on a high-speed chase through St. Joseph County. The chase lasted over 30 minutes, and Taylor reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Taylor crashed into an officer’s patrol car. He was arrested after driving to the South Bend International Airport, where a barrier arm blocked him from driving any further. Police recovered two loaded firearms that were thrown out of the window of the car that Taylor was driving. One of the firearms was affixed with a machinegun conversion device, and both firearms were equipped with extended magazines. Taylor was a felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. His criminal history includes prior felonies for carrying a handgun without a license within 500 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, and resisting law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jamaal Husband, 42 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Husband was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police executed a search warrant at Husband’s house and found two firearms, about 146 grams of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 360 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Marco Sole, 52 years old, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Sole was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on June 2, 2022, Sole delivered over 40 grams of fentanyl to another person. He also sold fentanyl on other occasions in Illinois and Indiana. During a search of a stash house Sole operated in Chicago, Illinois, law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl and firearms.
“From his home in Lynwood, Illinois, and a stash house in Chicago, Marco Sole mixed heroin with other even deadlier substances, including fentanyl, p-flourofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), and xylazine, before delivering those drugs to the Northern District of Indiana, often using an intermediary he directed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This hefty sentence should make one thing clear to any out-of-state drug dealer who might be planning to traffic his poisons in Indiana: the state line will not shield you, and you will be brought to justice. My thanks go out to the brave and talented public servants who brought and prosecuted this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI/GRIT Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, HIDTA, the Indiana State Police, and assistance from the Lynwood Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Kristian R. Mukoski.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Jamarkis J. Carter, 31 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to distributing a controlled substance, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Carter was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on September 25, 2024, Carter and a co-defendant distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory also assisted with this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison TimeRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Esteban Quino-Rosas, 45 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Esteban Quino-Rosas was sentenced to time served, based upon his detention since September 26, 2025, followed by 1 year of supervised release. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Quino-Rosas’ criminal history includes one prior removal from the United States in 2012.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.
Mexican National Sentenced to 6 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Felipe Bautista-Ramirez, 29 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Felipe Bautista-Ramirez was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. The supervised release term will go into effect if Bautista-Ramirez remains in, or returns to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
According to documents in the case, Bautista-Ramirez’s arrest history includes charges for theft. He was previously removed from the United States in May 2024 and September 2024.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hobart Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Wardrip.
Pennsylvania Man Found Guilty After 2-Day Jury TrialRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On December 10, 2025, Keisand Santiago-Maldonado, 33 years old, of Milton, Pennsylvania, was convicted of one felony drug count after a two-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Santiago-Maldonado was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius, Hannah T Jones, and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
Rochester Man Sentenced to 54 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Travis Frazier, 28 years old, of Rochester, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Frazier was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Frazier accidentally shot a loaded gun while holding his infant child, who was struck by bullet fragments. Frazier had a prior felony conviction and a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic battery, either of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Hammond Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Fernando Porras Jr., 64 years old, of Hammond, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Porras Jr. was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 22, 2024, Porras Jr. sold methamphetamine and cocaine at a gas station in Gary, Indiana. He also sold methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on several occasions in Dolton, Illinois, and Gary, from May 2023 and March 2024. Porras Jr. has a prior conviction for dealing in LSD.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Combined Task Force - Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.
Mexican National Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Julio Rangel-Jimenez, 41 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to two felony counts of Illegal Alien Unlawfully in Possession of a Firearm and Reentry of Removed Alien, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Rangel-Jimenez was sentenced to 46 months in prison.
According to documents in the case, Rangel-Jimenez was removed from the United States in February of 2025. He illegally reentered the United States and was arrested on July 22, 2025, in Fulton County, Indiana, following a traffic stop. Police found two handguns, two rifles with large capacity magazines, and about 19 grams of cocaine in the house where he was living. Because he was unlawfully in the United States, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
South Bend Woman Sentenced to 52 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Tonya R. Winston, 60 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after being found guilty by a jury in August of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of theft of government money, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Winston was sentenced to 52 months of prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $453,808.48 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, Winston devised a scheme to fraudulently obtain loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, which was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program intended to provide loans to small businesses. Winston obtained multiple loans for herself by submitting false loan applications, and she helped others to do the same. She also wrongfully obtained local housing benefits by misrepresenting her finances.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joel Gabrielse.
Acting U.S. Attorney M. Scott Proctor Announces Indictment Alleging Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, Firearms Crimes, and Attempted Killing of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
On November 19, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Indiana returned a 17-count indictment charging DeCarlos L. Smallwood, Robert Sanders, Kumar Bishop, Sanena Williams, and DeCarlos C. Smallwood with various drug, money laundering, and/or firearm offenses related to the distribution of methamphetamine in South Bend, Indiana. The indictment also charges DeCarlos L. Smallwood with attempting to kill a federal official engaged in the performance of federal duties on November 6, 2025, the date on which federal agents arrested him and searched his residence.
“Through this indictment, the grand jury has alleged that the defendants have committed exceedingly serious crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “My office bears the burden of proving that the defendants are guilty of these charges. Meanwhile, I would like to remind the public of two things. First, the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. And second, any credible allegation of attempted or actual violence against a federal agent will be pursued and, if appropriate, prosecuted by this office to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) remains committed to the disruption, dismantlement, and destruction of drug trafficking organizations that are threats to our communities and nation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “Violent drug trafficking organizations are an even worse threat. In this investigation, the collaborative effort among DEA and its law enforcement partners, which includes the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, led the grand jury to return an indictment that should serve as a powerful sign to anyone seeking to bring violence and drug distribution to north central Indiana: You will be investigated, charged, and prosecuted.”
Again, the public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, South Bend Police Department, St. Joseph County Police Department, and Mishawaka Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Logansport Man Sentenced to 108 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Yesterday, Jaysen K. Soberg, 39 years old, of Logansport, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Soberg was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on March 5, 2024, Soberg sold methamphetamine to law enforcement. He later sold three rifles, three firearms, and two 30-round magazines to law enforcement on two different occasions. Soberg’s criminal history revealed he was previously convicted of felony burglary and theft.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth.
Hammond Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Yesterday, Kenneth Young, 52 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Young was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on October 5, 2021, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Kenneth Young in Hammond, Indiana. Young initially pulled over, but when an officer approached his car, he sped off, leading to a chase. Young fled into Calumet City, Illinois, where he crashed into a car and fled on foot. During a search of the car, a loaded firearm with an obliterated serial number was recovered. Young’s criminal history revealed he was previously convicted of felonies, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, which prohibited him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Francis Sohn.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Elkhart Woman Sentenced to 85 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Undrea House, 29 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
House was sentenced to 85 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, House walked into a bank in August of 2024 and pointed a loaded handgun at an employee while demanding cash. She took over $1,000 in cash and returned to her apartment, where police found her and arrested her later that day.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Goshen Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 82 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On Friday, November 14, Armon Shannon, 25 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty by a jury of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial in July, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Shannon was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Shannon ran away from police in the parking lot of a gas station in South Bend. After police caught up to him, they found a loaded handgun on the ground along the path that Shannon had run from them. Shannon has multiple prior felony convictions, including two federal convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, any one of which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case.
“Shannon had already been convicted in federal court twice for illegally possessing a firearm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Evidently, neither conviction convinced him that he should give up on carrying guns. Thanks to the strong effort of our partner agencies and the excellent work of our trial attorneys, he will have 82 months to learn the lesson that he failed to take on the first two times he went to federal prison. Our office always tirelessly pursues such repeat offenders.”
“ATF is proud to work with the South Bend Police Department to take convicted felons who unlawfully possess firearms off our streets. The sentence handed down in this case reflects the seriousness of the conduct and reinforces that repeat violations of the law will be met with significant prison time” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Goshen Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On November 12, 2025, Orlando Rodriguez-Roman, 43 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury found him guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Rodriguez-Roman was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, federal agents intercepted a package addressed to a residence in Goshen that contained over 1,000 grams of cocaine. Agents removed the cocaine from the package and delivered it to its destination. Rodriguez-Roman later took possession of the package and placed the package’s contents, along with an additional amount of cocaine and methamphetamine, inside of a garbage bag. Agents converged on him as he was leaving his home, and Rodriguez-Roman fled in his car, leading police on a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood. During the chase, he threw the trash bag containing the drugs out of his car. After arresting Rodriguez-Roman, police searched his house and found a loaded handgun, three rifle magazines loaded with a total of nearly 80 rounds of ammunition, and other items used to package and store drugs.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service including the USPS Forensic Laboratory Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 211 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On November 6, 2025, Denardo A. McCormack, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Alwine was sentenced to 211 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, McCormack manufactured and packaged methamphetamine pills in a house in South Bend. On July 2, 2024, police executed a search warrant on the house and found McCormack alone inside, along with thousands of blue pills containing methamphetamine. Police recovered two pill presses, about 9.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nine loaded guns, and over $26,000 in cash.
“Denardo McCormack in effect converted this house into a drug-trafficking bunker, complete with a nearly ten-pound supply of meth, a ready supply of cash, and an arsenal with which to defend both,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “These are the tools of a dealer with no compunction about putting his entire community in danger. Thankfully, our partners in state, local, and federal law enforcement, working with the excellent prosecutors in our Office, ended this danger by bringing his case to a just result. They should all be commended for their efforts.”
“The arrest and prosecution of Denardo McCormack should serve as a loud message to anyone in north central Indiana who chooses to sell drugs and commit acts of violence,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “Law enforcement and prosecutors will work tirelessly and with zeal to silence the cruelty and evilness of their ways. The Drug Enforcement Administration and its partners, specifically in the St. Joseph County region, work exceptionally well together. Drug trafficking organizations in the region should know this is not the place to wreak havoc; they will be held accountable for their crimes. Today, Mr. McCormack would suggest the same.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, South Bend Police, Mishawaka Police, Indiana State Police, and St. Joseph County Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 211 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On November 6, 2025, Denardo A. McCormack, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Alwine was sentenced to 211 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, McCormack manufactured and packaged methamphetamine pills in a house in South Bend. On July 2, 2024, police executed a search warrant on the house and found McCormack alone inside, along with thousands of blue pills containing methamphetamine. Police recovered two pill presses, about 9.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nine loaded guns, and over $26,000 in cash.
“Denardo McCormack in effect converted this house into a drug-trafficking bunker, complete with a nearly ten-pound supply of meth, a ready supply of cash, and an arsenal with which to defend both,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “These are the tools of a dealer with no compunction about putting his entire community in danger. Thankfully, our partners in state, local, and federal law enforcement, working with the excellent prosecutors in our Office, ended this danger by bringing his case to a just result. They should all be commended for their efforts.”
“The arrest and prosecution of Denardo McCormack should serve as a loud message to anyone in north central Indiana who chooses to sell drugs and commit acts of violence,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “Law enforcement and prosecutors will work tirelessly and with zeal to silence the cruelty and evilness of their ways. The Drug Enforcement Administration and its partners, specifically in the St. Joseph County region, work exceptionally well together. Drug trafficking organizations in the region should know this is not the place to wreak havoc; they will be held accountable for their crimes. Today, Mr. McCormack would suggest the same.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, South Bend Police, Mishawaka Police, Indiana State Police, and St. Joseph County Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
LaPorte Woman Fined $6,000Read the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On November 5, 2025, Karen K. Graf, 72 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to theft on the high seas, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor
Graf was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $6,000 fine.
According to documents in the case, Graf was on a cruise ship in international waters sailing from Hawaii to San Diego when she stole a ring valued at $65,900 from a jewelry store on board the cruise ship. About a week later, the ring was found by authorities in Graf’s luggage when she was disembarking from the cruise ship.
“This case illustrates the commitment of the federal government to prosecute crimes occurring outside the United States but within its special maritime and territorial jurisdiction—and, in particular, crimes that occur on the high seas,” said Proctor. “We thank our law enforcement partners from other districts who collaborated in the investigation of this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the Port of San Diego Harbor Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
South Bend Man Found Guilty by JuryRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On October 30, 2025, Aguila Binion, 48 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 19, 2026, at 1:30 PM.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 420 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – On October 30, 2025, James J. Oldham, V, 28 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and to distributing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Oldham was sentenced to 420 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Oldham went to trial in November of 2024, but he decided to plead guilty after the fourth day of trial. Oldham coordinated the transportation and distribution of massive quantities of fentanyl pills from Arizona to Indiana, distributing the pills in northeastern and central Indiana. Oldham recruited young women to transport his drugs on commercial airlines, including two minors under the age of 18.
"Fentanyl is not just an illegal drug - it’s a weapon of destruction in our communities, destroying lives and devastating families,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This sentence underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these dangerous dealers from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
“James Oldham organized a criminal conspiracy to traffic enormous quantities of a deadly and addictive poison into northern Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “To further this illicit scheme, he enlisted others—including two underage girls—to serve as drug mules. The hefty sentence he received is just in light of the harm his trade has visited on our communities and the callous disregard he demonstrated towards the vulnerable women and girls swept up in his scheme. My thanks go out to the exceptional team of law enforcement professionals who worked diligently to put him in federal prison.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, Indiana State Police, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and Fort Wayne Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory, the Phoenix (Arizona) Police Department, the Glendale (Arizona) Police Department, and the Allen County (Indiana) Prosecuting Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identified, disrupted, and dismantled the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leveraged the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. OCDETF’s mission has since been brought under the ambit of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) program.