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 June 24, 2008, Robert Wainwright, 64, of Chesterton, Indiana, was convicted by a jury of both counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, at the conclusion of a two day jury trial before Judge Lozano. The jury found Wainwright guilty of possession of 23 firearms, including numerous high capacity firearms such as an SKS 7.62 x 39 millimeter semi-automatic rifle with an extended 50 round magazine, an M-1, .30 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, and and M-1, .30 caliber semiautomatic rifle with extended 30 round magazine. Numerous shotguns and rifles were also recovered. Many of the firearms, including multiple semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, were loaded when recovered. Three firearms, including the SKS, 7.62 x 39 millimeter, semi-automatic rifle, and over 2,100 rounds of 7.62 x 39 millimeter ammunition were recovered from Wainwright’s business in Gary, Indiana. An additional 20 firearms, and over 200 more rounds of ammunition, including .44 Magnum caliber ammunition, 12 gauge ammunition, 9 millimeter ammunition, and .45 caliber ammunition, were recovered from Wainwright’s Chesterton, Indiana residence. Wainwright has a prior felony conviction for child molesting, which he received in 1995 and served four years in prison. This case began as a result of an investigation by the Northern Indiana Environmental Crimes Task Force at Wainwright’s Gary, Indiana, business, and the ATF/HIDTA Task Force was called into investigate upon recovery of firearms. This case was a joint investigation by the ATF/HIDTA Task Force and the Northern Indiana Environmental Crimes Task Force, and was prosecuted by AUSAs Dean Lanter and Nicholas Padilla at trial. Wainwright remains on bond pending his October 2008 sentencing.

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.