U.S. Department of Justice

                                                                                    United States Attorney

                                                                                    Northern District of Indiana

Joseph S. Van Bokkelen

United States Attorney                                                                                          5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500                                                (219) 937- 5500

                                                                                                                              Hammond, Indiana 46320                                          FAX: (219) 852- 2770

TTD: (219) 933- 1250

                                                                                    April 27, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASED BY:                   Joseph S. Van Bokkelen

                                                United States Attorney

                                                Northern District of Indiana

                                                5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

                                                Hammond, Indiana 46320 

PRESS RELEASE

            The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Hammond, Indiana, returned the following Indictment on March 17, 2006:

            BRANDON TERRELL THOMAS, age 24, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with Possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the DEA/HIDTA. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline L. Jacobs, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

            The Grand Jury sitting in Hammond, Indiana also returned the following Indictments on March 20, 2006.

             STEVIE WEBB, age 37, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit: a Davis Industries .22 caliber handgun loaded with two rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms/HIDTA and the Gary, Indiana Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

             SONYA LYSHELLE PAYNE, age 36, of Merrillville, Indiana was charged with Theft of Government Funds whereby she did willfully and knowingly embezzle, steal, purloin, and convert to her own use or the use of another, approximately $32,000.00 of money from the United States Veterans Administration. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary T. Bell, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

             KENSHONE DAVID SPENCE, age 23, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with Possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the DEA/HIDTA. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline L. Jacobs, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

             WARREN M. MINES, age 44, of Crete, Illinois, was charged with possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the DEA/HIDTA and the Dyer, Indiana Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

             JOSHUA YUEN, age 27, and JORDAN LEONARD, age 23, of Lafayette, Indiana, were charged with falsely making and forging an obligation of the United States, that is, a falsely made, forged and counterfeited one hundred dollar Federal Reserve Note. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service and the Lafayette, Indiana Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

            The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

            The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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