United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, Indiana 46320

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

April 19, 2010                                                                                     PHONE: (219) 937-5500

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                    Fax: (219) 852-2770 

ACTIVITY IN FEDERAL COURT - HAMMOND

Hammond, Indiana—The United States Attorney's Office announced:

Ruperto Perez, Sr., 66, and Jose Alfredo Perez, 48, both of Whiting, Indiana, were sentenced on 4/15/10 by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 57 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release, and 130 months and 4 years of supervised release, respectively, after each plead guilty to knowingly combining, conspiring, confederating and agreeing with each other and other persons to possessing with the intent to distribute five-hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Erick Ford, 35, of Chicago, Illinois, plead guilty on 4/16/10 before Chief Judge Philip Simon to distribution of crack cocaine. Sentencing has been set for July 20, 2010. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

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.