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 8, 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:
Juan Arteaga, 30, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 37 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
Lamont J. Williams, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to count one of an indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case US v Blades et al. Sentencing has been set for 6/23/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
Robert Evans, Jr., 41, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 120 months imprisonment and 8 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to counts one through three of an indictment charging him with 2 counts of distribution of cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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.
Melissa Sloop, 43, of Goshen, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging her with theft of government property (unemployment benefits). Sentencing has been set for 7/6/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.
Myra Magana, 27, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 12 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count 32 of a superseding indictment charging with distribution of cocaine in the case US v Lopez et al. 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.
Jerome Smith, 58, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with theft of government property (unemployment benefits). These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe.
George Tedeschi, 52, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count 13 of a superseding indictment charging him with use of a communication facility (telephone) to facilitate the commission of a felony, namely; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, in the case US v Lopez et al. Sentencing has been set for 6/23/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
Shawn Hopkins, 31, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 15 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
Damon Lamont Jones, 40, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to count one of an indictment charging him with criminal infringement on copyrights. Sentencing has been set for 6/29/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Benson.
Torrence Welch, 33, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to probation for a term of 2 years after pleading guilty to count one of an Information charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation . This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.
Deandre Burns, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of an Information charging him with use of a communication facility to distribute marijuana. Sentencing has been set for 6/21/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
Hal Kaplan, 54, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 37 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an Information charging him with carrying away from trucks goods and chattels of a value in excess of $1000, that is steel and aluminum, that constitute an interstate shipment of freight and express. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $315,447.64, and a fine of $7500. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
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.