United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

M01-204 S. Main Street

South Bend, Indiana 46601

Hammond South Bend Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

August 31, 2012 PHONE: (219) 937-5500

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

WEEK IN REVIEW – SOUTH BEND

South Bend, Indiana - The United States Attorney’s Office announced that:

PLEAS:

Ø Jesse Newman, 22, of Kokomo, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 11/29/12. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Ø Gerardo Garcia, 22, of South Bend, Indiana, a defendant in the case US v Ruelas et al., pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offenses of intentionally distributing marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 11/29/12. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Ø Aaron Jones, 50, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Jones has a prior conviction for possession of cocaine. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 12/20/12. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Bend Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

DISPOSITIONS:

Ø Shayla Montague, 20, of Plymouth, Indiana, a defendant in the case US v Beard et al., was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 30 months imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police and the Plymouth Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Ø Master Nixon, 25, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 15 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of marijuana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.