FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS SIX INDICTMENTS

Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Hammond, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on August 2, 2006:

DWAYNE EUGENE AMOS, JR., age 37, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in a one count indictment with knowingly and intentionally possessing with the 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, a Schedule II controlled substance. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Gary Police Department and GRIT. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S. Ratcliffe, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

TOURON D. JOHNSON, age 26, of Hammond, Indiana, was charged in a one count indictment with knowingly and intentionally possessing with the 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, a Schedule II controlled substance. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and HIDTA. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S. Ratcliffe, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

ROBERT ANDERSON, age 55, of Lake Station, Indiana was charged in a three count indictment with knowingly receiving visual depictions, specifically, computer photographic images, that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate commerce, such visual depictions being of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and the producing of such visual depictions involving the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Included in the indictment is a sexual exploitation forfeiture allegation regarding property, real and personal, used or intended to be used to commit or to promote the commission of such offenses described. These charges were filed as a result of the investigation by the Lake Station Police Department and the United States Secret Service. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip C. Benson, who can be reached at 219-937-5500 for any inquiries.

KEITH BERNARD MILLER, age 33, of East Chicago, Indiana was charged in a six count indictment with knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine, a schedule II controlled substance. These charges were filed as a result of the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and GRIT. 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.

LANCE C. GALLAGHER, age 37, and MELISSA MARIE GALLAGHER, age 35, both of Gary, Indiana were charged in an eight count indictment with knowingly and with the intent to defraud, possessing at least fifteen (15) or more counterfeit access devices; producing a counterfeit access device; producing false identification documents, to wit; false birth certificates, false driver's licenses and false personal identification cards; possessing, with the intent to use unlawfully, five or more false identification documents; possessing identification documents that appeared to be identification documents of the United States, knowing that such documents were stolen and produced without such legal authority; possessing with the intent to defraud, forged and counterfeited obligations of the United States, that is, Federal Reserve Notes, which the defendants knew to be falsely made, forged and counterfeited; and with the intent to defraud, did make, forge, and counterfeit obligations of the United States, that is, Federal Reserve Notes. They were also charged with unlawfully receiving, concealing, and possessing United States mail, which had been stolen, taken, and embezzled, knowing the same to have been stolen, taken and embezzled. These charges were filed as a result of the investigation by the Postal Inspection Service. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip C. Benson, who can be reached at 219-9375500 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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