Federal Grand Jury In South Bend Returns Indictment

Hammond South Bend Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana - The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in South Bend, Indiana, returned the following Indictment on May 14, 2014:
Alvaro Rivera-Arvayo, 23, Luis A. Ramirez-Perez, 49, and Matthew D. Hottinger, 38, all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, are charged in a two count Indictment. All defendants were charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and Hottinger was also charged with managing and controlling a drug involved premises, all occurring on or about April 15, 2014. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Police, Allen County Drug Task Force, Allen County Police Department, New Haven Police Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
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.
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.