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

May 14, 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 that the following activity in federal court:

Chat Retic, 44, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced on 5/12/10 by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 46 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm which was a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber automatic pistol. Retic was previously convicted of auto theft. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

James W. Vickery, 63, of Hobart, Indiana, was sentenced on 5/13/10 by Senior Judge James Moody to 2 years of probation and home detention for a period of 22 months to begin within 30 days of placement on supervision after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. Vickery was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Jacob Casey, 26, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/12/10 before Senior Judge James Moody to count 1 of an indictment charging him with possession of pseudoephedrine, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe that the chemical would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

James Patrick, 42, of Knox, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/12/10 before Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich to count 3 of an indictment charging knowingly and intentionally using or causing to be used a communication facility, namely a telephone, to facilitate the commission of a felony, namely conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Kanesha Commodore, 26, of Markham, Illinois, plead guilty on 5/13/10 before Senior Judge James Moody to count 1 of an indictment charging aiding and abetting bank fraud of First Financial Bank. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.

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.