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                                                                                    U.S. Department of Justice



                                                                                    United States Attorney

                                                                                    Northern District of Indiana

 



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

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

TTD: (219) 933- 1250

 


                                    



                                                                                                     April 19, 2006






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Released By: Joseph S. Van Bokkelen

                  United States Attorney

                  Northern District of Indiana

                  5400 Federal Plaza

                 Hammond, Indiana 46320


Contact Person: David E. Hollar

                  Assistant United States Attorney

                                       219/937-5500


                                     PRESS RELEASE

                                              

DEFENDANT CONVICTED

         A federal jury in South Bend, Indiana convicted DARYL HARPER, age 50, of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and trafficking in contraband interstate cigarettes and twelve counts of mail fraud. The jury deliberated for approximately 4 hours.

         Evidence at trial showed that HARPER was the manager of a gas station and accepted fraudulent cigarette coupons from January through May 2002. Evidence further showed that the loss to B.P. Amoco was approximately $500,000.

         A forfeiture judgment was entered for $427,260, the full amount requested by the government.

         The case was tried before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Miller in South Bend, Indiana. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. HARPER faces up to a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.

         This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David E. Hollar and Philip C. Benson.

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