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

June 10, 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:

Reginald Sanders, 44, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 3 years of probation after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with making false statements in the purchase 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 Thomas Ratcliffe.

Jamie Buford, 42, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 154 months imprisonment with 70 months to be served concurrently with the defendant’s previous case, 84 months consecutively to that same previous case, and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count two of a superseding indictment charging him with interference with commerce by threat of violence. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Orest Szewciw and Thomas Ratcliffe.

Darren Higgenbottom, 43, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich to count one of an indictment charging him with passing counterfeit obligations or securities in the case US v Cokes et al. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.

Dwayne Swims, 48, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to counts one through four of a superseding indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and distribution of crack cocaine. Sentencing has been set for 9/12/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Hammond Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Glenn Weaver, 33, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to count one of an indictment charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force . This case is being 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.