United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

M01-204 S. Main Street

South Bend, IN 46601

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

March 24, 2011                                                                                  PHONE: (219) 937-5500

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

FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN SOUTH BEND RETURNS INDICTMENTS

South Bend, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in South Bend, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on March 9, 2011:

Thomas Coffin, 32, Plymouth, Indiana, was charged in a one count Indictment with one count of manufacturing Methamphetamine. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.

Renato Debartolo, 44, New Carlisle, Indiana, was charged in a two count Indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute Marijuana and one count of manufacturing Marijuana. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.

La Shaun Briggs, 41 and Michelle Rosner, 32, both of Michigan City, Indiana, were charged in a five count Indictment. Briggs was charged with four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Rosner was charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.

Taylor Wagers, 64, Knox, Indiana, was charged in a one count Indictment with one count of felon in possession of firearms. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.

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.