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

February 4, 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:

Larry D. Williams, 31, of Gary, Indiana, was charged by an indictment returned today with being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; a Hi-Point, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol; one magazine; and fourteen (14) rounds of .380 caliber ammunition which he will forfeit upon conviction. Williams was convicted of escape in 2001 and of felon in possession of a firearm in 2005. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives/HIDTA Task Force, and the Gary Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Brandon Snelling, 26, of East Chicago, Indiana, was charged by an indictment returned today with being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; a Norinco, 7.62 x 39 millimeter, semi-automatic rifle; a Keltec, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol; a Colt, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol; seven rounds of .380 caliber ammunition; and one round of nine millimeter ammunition which he will forfeit upon conviction. Snelling was convicted of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) in 2002 and 2003 in Wisconsin. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, the Hammond Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Brian Sievers, 32, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was sentenced on 2/3/10 by Judge Rudy Lozano to 18 months imprisonment followed by 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing a .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol as a felon. In December 2008, Sievers falsely indicated that he was not a convicted felon in purchasing a .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol at an Indiana firearms store. Shortly thereafter, the ATF recovered the firearm and ammunition from Sievers. Sievers has a prior felony conviction for reckless homicide, in addition to a prior misdemeanor convictions for battery with injury and reckless driving. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Delbert Patterson, 20, of Steger, Illinois, was sentenced on 2/3/10 by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 57 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to transporting an individual across state lines to engage in prostitution in the case US v Cephus et al. This case was investigated by the Chicago Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Resident Agency. Also instrumental in the investigation were the Cook County Sheriff’s Police and the Hammond Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jill Trumbull Harris and Philip Benson.

Latasha Smith, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced on 2/3/10 by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 18 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to making false statements and representations of a material fact with respect to the lawfulness of the sale of firearms from Westforth Sport Shop in the case US v Walker et al. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

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.

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.