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

March 26, 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:

Jeffrey Fox, 40, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced on 3/25/10 before Judge Rudy Lozano to 41 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of chemicals knowing they will be used to manufacture narcotics. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Jason Haddock, 30, of Valparaiso, Indiana, plead guilty on 3/25/10 before Senior Judge James Moody to possession of pseudoephedrine, a listed chemical, knowing that the listed chemical will be used to manufacture methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration , and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Rian Chambers, 36, of Gary, Indiana plead guilty on 3/24/10 before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to possessing in and affecting commerce firearms, to wit: one Ruger Model P95 9 millimeter pistol, and one Ruger Model P95 9 millimeter pistol. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives HIDTA Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Joshua Wampler, 34, of Michigan City, Indiana, plead guilty on 3/24/10 before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to possession with the intent to distribute heroin in the case US v Zitt et al. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Chester Washington, 39, of Gary, Indiana, plead guilty on 3/23/10 before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; one black and silver Cobra Model CA32 .32 caliber semiautomatic pistol, having been convicted of possession of cocaine on April 10, 1995 in the Superior Court of Lake County, Indiana, and Battery on February 6, 1995 in the Superior Court of Lake County, Indiana. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Brandon Snelling, 26, of East Chicago, Indiana, plead guilty on 3/23/10 before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to being a felon in possession of three firearms. Snelling was convicted of delivery of a controlled substance in 2002 and 2003 in Wisconsin. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

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.