FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN FORT WAYNE RETURNS INDICTMENTS

Fort Wayne, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on May 28, 2008:

KEVIN BENDER, age 45, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a three count Indictment with two counts of distribution of controlled substances on January 7 and January 17, 2008, and one count of tampering with a witness on May 18, 2008. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich, who can be reached at 260-422-2595 for any inquiries.

MICHAEL A. BOWER, age 32, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a six count Superseding Indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on from on or about April 2007, up to and including on or about March 25, 2008; one count of maintaining drug involved premises on March 25, 2008, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug offense on March 25, 2008; two counts of distribution of controlled substances on November 10, 2004 and February 23, 2007; and one count of money laundering on August 29, 2007. The Superseding Indictment seeks the forfeiture of U.S. currency; vehicles; firearms and ammunition. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich, who can be reached at 260-422-2595 for any inquiries.

KEVIN R. FRANKLIN, age 20, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged in a single count Indictment with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm on May 12, 2008. The Indictment seeks the forfeiture of a firearm and ammunition. This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris King, who can be reached at 260-422-2595 for any inquiries.

WOODROW ORMISTON, age 35, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged in a five count Indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances from on or about August 2007, up to and including on or about May 9, 2008; one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on August 6, 2007 and May 9, 2008; and two counts of distribution of controlled substances on January 31 and February 8, 2008. The Indictment seeks for the forfeiture of U.S. currency. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich, who can be reached at 260-422-2595 for any inquiries.

DAN PHILLIPS, age 46, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a four count Indictment with three counts of distribution of controlled substances on November 29, December 7, and December 20, 2007, and one count of tampering with a witness on May 18, 2008. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich, who can be reached at 260-422-2595 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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