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 5, 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:

Phillip Philizaire, 23, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced on 3/29/10 before Chief Judge Philip Simon to 48 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Hammond Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Jesus Lopez, 31, of New Chicago, Indiana, plead guilty on 3/30/10 before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indiana State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

William Sandifer, 36, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced on 3/31/10 by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 30 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for the bank robbery of Centier Bank located in Highland, Indiana in the case US v Lamar Washington et al. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation/GRIT Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe.

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.