ACTIVITY IN FEDERAL COURT - HAMMOND

Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced several events taking place in the District Court, Hammond, Indiana:

On January 23, 2008:

Ryan Harmon, 27, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced to 151 months followed by 4 years of supervised release for knowingly distributing a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, or “crack” cocaine in March, 2007. Harmon had three prior felony drug convictions for Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance. This case was investigated by the DEA/HIDTA Task Force and the East Chicago Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Gerald W. Kacak, 65, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Philip Simon to 27 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $314,000 to Sand Ridge Bank for Bank Fraud. In March, 2006, Kacak executed a scheme wherein he obtained a check from the Yokogawa Corporation of America, located in Georgia, made payable to his company, A-1 Marine International, located in Hammond, Indiana, in the amount of $160,176.37. He had never had any business dealings with Yokogawa Corp. Kacak deposited the check into his savings account at Sand Ridge Bank and then cabled funds to an account in his wife’s name in Viet Nam. The original Yokogawa check was returned to Sand Ridge Bank as a non-negotiable forgery. Kacak also executed the same scheme with a check from Dufferin Construction Company, located in Canada, for $156,923.66 made payable to A-1 Marine International. That check was also returned as a non-negotiable forgery to Sand Ridge Bank. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall M. Stewart.

Nakia Lee Coleman, 25, of Gary, Indiana, Kenneth S. Hicks, 39, of Ford Heights, Illinois, and Timothy Frazier, 29, of Gary, Indiana were each sentenced this week after pleading guilty to distributing a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Coleman was sentenced to 1 year probation, forfeiture of a firearm and $1,372.00. Hicks was sentenced to 21 months and forfeiture of $932.75, and Frazier was sentenced to 37 months, forfeiture of two firearms, $1,372.00 in U.S. Currency, and one 1994 Cadillac Deville. This case was investigated by the FBI/GRIT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline L. Jacobs.

January 24, 2008:

Jeanine Ahmed, age 33, of Dyer, Indiana, was sentenced to 3 years probation after pleading guilty to Identity Theft. Between May 2004 and continuing through, May, 2005, Ahmed was employed at a physician’s office in Schererville, Indiana, accessed the patient medical database, and stole the personal information of patients. She then opened American Express Business Gold Cards in the patient’s name and added herself to the accounts as a supplemental user. Ahmed acknowledge that she made purchases of items of value in excess of $1,000.00 utilizing the fraudulently obtained American Express credit cards and convenience checks. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi D. Houston.

Larry Cochran, 45, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge James Moody to 405 months of incarceration to be followed by 5 years of supervised release for drug trafficking. Cochran was found guilty after a jury trial in November, 2006. This case was investigated by the FBI/GRIT and the Hammond Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.

Next week in Hammond:

January 28:

Jewell Harris, 66, of Gary, Indiana, trial will commence at 9 AM before Judge James T. Moody

January 29:

Leon Freeman, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, plead guilty to Passing Counterfeit $50 Federal Reserve Notes and will be sentenced by Judge Rudy Lozano at 12:30 PM.

January 30:

Ahkevah Petway-Moody, 26, of Gary, Indiana, plead guilty to making materially false statements in the purchase of firearms from Westforth’s Sports, Inc and will be sentenced by Judge James Moody at 12:30 PM.

January 31:

Bok J. Young, 46, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, plead guilty to conspiring to facilitate Illegal Prostitution Activities and will be sentenced by Judge Rudy Lozano at 2 PM.

Jose Diaz, 42, of Hammond, Indiana, plead guilty to drug possession and will be sentenced by Judge Rudy Lozano at 12:30 PM.