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 27 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:

David Allen, 28, of Gary, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/20/10 before Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich to count eight of an indictment charging him with knowingly, and with intent to deceive, making false statements and representations regarding a material fact with respect to the lawfulness of the acquisition of two firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms HIDTA Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Rickey Scott, Jr., 33, of East Chicago, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/24/10 before Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich to count one of an indictment charging him with knowingly possessing in and affecting commerce a firearm, to wit: one (1) Colt, model Police Positive, .38 caliber revolver. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Michael Mokol, Jr., 42, of Merrillville, Indiana, was sentenced on 5/19/10 before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 262 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release after being found guilty at trial of being a felon in possession of a handgun, to wit: a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, and six rounds of Remington-Peters 9mm ammunition. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar and Philip Benson.

James Askew, 30, of Hammond, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/26/10 before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit: a .410/.45 revolver. Askew was previously convicted of possession of a stolen firearm in 2002, and battery in 1999. 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.