5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500 Hammond, IN 46320
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton | |
| January 11, 2008 | 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 January 2, 2008:
ANTHONY MOTON, 27, and DEWAYNE WHITE, both of Hammond, Indiana, were charged in a 2 count indictment with distributing 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of Cocaine Base commonly known as "Crack" Cocaine. Upon conviction Moton will forfeit approximately $1070.00. This case was investigated by the DEA/HIDTA Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer S. Chang.
QUINTIN LEE, 22, of Hammond, Indiana was charged in an 8 count indictment with distributing a substance containing a detectable amount of MDMA and 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of Cocaine Base, or “Crack” Cocaine. Upon conviction, Lee will forfeit one Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic revolver, one SKS
7.62 assault rifle, one bayonette and assorted live ammunition. This case is being investigated by the DEA/HIDTA. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer S. Chang.
The following indictments were unsealed:
LAMONTRA BERTHA HUTTON, 27, of Griffith, Indiana, was charged in a 1 count indictment with interstate transport of stolen goods, being approximately eighty-two 61 inch Samsung projection screen televisions having a value of $5,000 or more. This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Indiana State Police and the Griffith Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall M. Stewart.
VINCELL JACKSON, 39, of Calumet City, Illinois, was charged in a 2 count indictment with Wire and Bank Fraud. Jackson allegedly deposited a worthless empty envelope purporting to be worth $3,500 in his Bank One checking account and then conducted a fraudulent debit card transaction to receive a $2,800 cash advance at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. This case is being investigated by the Indiana State Police, the United States Secret Service, and the United States Postal Inspector. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter.
ERNESTO GONZOLEZ, 33, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in a 2 count indictment with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Upon conviction, Gonzalez will forfeit $485 and all property used in the commission of the offense. This case is being investigated by the ATF/HIDTA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.
WILLIAM BAKER, 47, of Dyer, Indiana, was charged in a 5 count indictment with Aggravated Identity Theft and Social Security Fraud. Baker utilized the name, date of birth and social security numbers of individuals without their knowledge, authority, or permission and used those identifiers to obtain credit cards and obtained items of value aggregating $1,000 or more during a one year period. This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney. Toi D. Houston.
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.
On January 8, 2008:
JOHN REYNA, 44, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced to 178 months in prison, and 3 years of supervised release upon release for his conviction on using a communication facility, namely a telephone, to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense, and for failure to appear. Reyna entered into a plea agreement related to the charges on communication facility to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense and then failed to appear for his court hearing on that plea. He was eventually arrested in Chicago. This case was investigated by the DEA/HIDTA, and the United States Marshals. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sharon S. Johnson.