5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500 Hammond, IN 46320
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton | |
| November 21, 2007 | PHONE: (219) 937-5603 | |
| www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ | Fax: (219) 852-2770 | |
| WEEK IN REVIEW |
Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced several events taking place in the District Court, Hammond, Indiana:
On November 16, 2007:
JAMES WINBUSH, JR., 31, of Gary, Indiana, after a 3 day jury trial before Judge Simon, was found guilty of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base and Marijuana, being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition and to the Use and Carry of a Firearm in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. This case was investigated by the ATF, the FBI/Grit Task Force and the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Jacqueline L. Jacobs, and Jennifer S. Chang. Sentencing has been set for February 13, 2008 at 1 pm.
FEDERICO A. MORAN, 33, of Hammond, Indiana and Guatemala, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years supervised release for Knowing Reentry by an Alien after conviction for aggravated battery in 2001. Moran returned to Guatemala after serving 1 ½ years of a 10 year sentence in Georgia and then reentered the United States. Moran will face finishing the remainder of that 10 year sentence and then deportation after serving his sentence in Indiana. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall M. Stewart.
CARLOS MURRIETA-RIVERA, 33, of Lafayette, Indiana was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment consecutive to 12 months imprisonment on a violation of supervised release case, (total 104 months imprisonment). BARBARA PENALOZA, 27, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment and 4 years supervised release. Both defendants pled guilty to drug conspiracy charges. Both were cooperators in US v Hernandez et al. Salvador Hernandez was sentenced to 135 months with 5 years supervised release and Gerardo Rojas, another participant indicted in the case, was sentenced to 118 months with 3 years supervised release. In May 2007, Hernandez pled guilty to drug conspiracy and Rojas pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Both defendants contested the drug quantities. This drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in Tippecanoe County. This case was investigated by a joint DEA and Tippecanoe County Drug Task Force Case, which included officers from Tippecanoe Sheriff’s Department, Purdue University, Lafayette Police Department, West Lafayette Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sharon J.
Johnson.
On November 19, 2007:
GARY LEE HIGGINS, JR., 23, of Hammond, Indiana, was charged in a 4 count indictment with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, commonly known as crack cocaine. This case was investigated by GRIT. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S. Ratcliffe.
DEANGELO JONES, 24, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in a 5 count indictment with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, commonly known as crack cocaine. Upon conviction, Jones will forfeit any property used to commit said violations, including, but not limited to; a Hy-score Model 201 shotgun; a Ruger P95 handgun; a Fabrique Nationale Herstal Belgium assault rifle; and a Ruger 9mm handgun. This case is being investigated by the FBI/Grit Task Force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer S. Chang.
On November 20, 2007:
DORIS STOWERS, 64, of Kouts, Indiana, was charged in a 19 count indictment with Assisting in the Preparation of False Income Tax Returns. An IRS investigation revealed that during the calendar years of 2003 and 2004, Stowers prepared returns which materially inflated claimed deductions. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua P. Kolar.
RAYNADCE A. CRANSHAW, of Chicago, Illinois, was charged in an 8 count indictment with False Claims on Federal Income Taxes. An IRS investigation revealed that Cranshaw prepared tax returns for Indiana residents inflating income in the guise of “household help wages”, and on some, added dependents, when in fact, they did not have the income nor the dependents as claimed. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bernard Van Wormer.
KENNETH GOODSON, 36, of Gary Indiana, was charged in a 2 count indictment with Distribution of 5 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. This case is being investigated by the FBI/GRIT Task Force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer S. Chang.
CLARENCE ALLEN CURRIN, 28, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in a complaint with Distribution of 5 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. This case is being investigated by the FBI/GRIT Task Force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.
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 these indictments are merely allegations and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.