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

January 29, 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:

Manuel Martinez III, 24, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced on 1/27/10 by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 15 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; two semi-automatic pistols. After Martinez sold marijuana to a confidential informant from an East Chicago residence in July 2009, a search warrant was executed and recovered two firearms, ammunition, and a small amount of cocaine and marijuana from a room in which Martinez was staying. Martinez has a prior felony conviction for sexual misconduct with a minor and was on parole at the time of the offense. Martinez has been in custody since his arrest in July 2009. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives/HIDTA Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Antrione Manning, 34, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced on 1/28/10 by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 51 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; a FEG 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Manning was convicted of possession of a stolen vehicle, in July, 2005, in Illinois. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives/HIDTA Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Jeffrey Kidd, 35, of Rensselaer, Indiana, plead guilty on 1/28/10 before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to use of a communication facility to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Sentencing has been set for April 8, 2010. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and was 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.