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 Hatton

June 15, 2012 PHONE: (219) 937-5603

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

WEEK IN REVIEW – HAMMOND

Hammond, Indiana- The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following:

PLEAS:

Ø Earl Russell Idle, 64, of Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of distribution of child pornography. Sentencing has been set for 9/6/12. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kokomo Police Department and the Highland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.

Ø Brandon Earl, 29, of Demotte, Indiana, a defendant in the case US v Humphrey et al., pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry to the felony offense of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. Magistrate Cherry 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. 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.

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 Mario Esposito, 52, a defendant in the case US v DeLeon et al., was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 87 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to possess and distribute 5 kilograms of more of cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Ø Tommy Tyner, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, a defendant in the case US v Stokes et al., was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 144 months imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of conspiracy and attempt to commit robbery in a plan to take cocaine from individuals he believed to be engaged in narcotics trafficking, and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.