E. Ross Adair Federal Building & United States Courthouse 1300 South Harrison Street, Room 3128 Fort Wayne, IN 46802-3489 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton
August 2, 2011 PHONE: (219) 937-5603 www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ Fax: (219) 852-2770
FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN FORT WAYNE RETURNS INDICTMENTS
Fort Wayne, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on July 27, 2011:
Shawn Karst, 35, of Huntington, Indiana, is charged in a two count Indictment with manufacturing a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, both offenses occurred on or about March 29, 2011. The Indictment also seeks for forfeiture of a computer, handgun, and miscellaneous items. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Huntington County Sheriff’s Department and the Allen County Police Department SWAT Team. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Otaimond McFarthing, 25, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a four count Indictment with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance from on or about January 2010, up to and including on or about February 2011, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on or about September 23, 2010, and February 23, 2011, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense on or about February 23, 2011. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich.
Alberto Pita, 28, of Kendallville, Indiana, is charged in a two count Indictment with distribution of a controlled substance on or about March 20 and April 23, 2009. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the IMAGE Drug Task Force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich.
Michael C. Scott, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a four count Indictment with distribution of a controlled substance on or about August 11, 2009, October 15, 2009, and October 29, 2009, as well as carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense on or about August 11, 2009. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement, Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IMAGE DTF, FWPD Gang Unit. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Trgovich.
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.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
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