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

April 15, 2011                                                                                     PHONE: (219) 937-5500

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                    Fax: (219) 852-2770 

WEEK IN REVIEW - HAMMOND

Hammond, Indiana—The United States Attorney's Office announced the following:

Isaias Madrigal-Martinez, 56, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 41 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with reentry of a deported alien. This case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Collins.

Robin King, 49, of Kouts, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 15 months imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with possession of 100 or more marijuana plants with the intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Samuel Carranza, 54, of Lansing, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to count 28 of a second superseding indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana in the case US v Crawford et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Jeremy Joseph, 34, of Goodland, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to three years of probation after pleading guilty to count of an Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration . This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Calvin Murray, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to 46 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Murray was previously convicted of the felony offenses of burglary and auto theft. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Ellis Bryant, 51, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to1 year of probation after pleading guilty to count eleven of a superseding indictment charging him with use of a communication facility to distribute marijuana in the case US v Crawford et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Jairo Fernando-Valdez, 30, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before to count of an indictment charging with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Obed Ornelas, 28, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before to count of an indictment charging with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana in the case US v Fernando-Valdez et al. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Dwayne Crawford, 38, of Merrillville, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to count one of a second superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 100 kilograms of more of marijuana, and possession with the intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Crawford also pled guilty to Count 49 of the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with engaging in a monetary transaction with criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

            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.