Week In Review – Hammond

  Hammond, Indiana — The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:

PLEA

• Kathryn Jackson, 29, of Chicago, Illinois pled guilty to the felony offense of identity theft. The magistrate judge is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.  Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by United States Postal Service.  Sentencing has not been set.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

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

• Hudie Y Scott, 30, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment with 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally distributing cocaine base, commonly known as “crack”.  According to documents filed in this case, in October 2013, law enforcement agents performed a controlled buy of narcotics which led to the arrests of Scott and Dajon Rowlett. This case was the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

• Dajon E Rowlett, 32, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally distributing cocaine base, commonly known as “crack”.  According to documents filed in this case, in October 2013, law enforcement agents performed a controlled buy of narcotics which led to the arrests of Rowlett and Hudie Y. Scott.  This case was the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

• Jose Alvarez, Jr, 40, of East Chicago, Indiana was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment with 4 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.  According to documents filed in this case, in April 2014, law enforcement investigators performed a search of Alvarez’s residence in East Chicago, Indiana.  In the premises, packages of marijuana were discovered including one of these packages containing approximately 3610 gross grams and another containing 801 gross grams.  Investigators also located cocaine in three different locations within the premises.  In the basement, investigators located approximately 1651 gross grams of cocaine in one location and approximately 350 grams of cocaine in another location and another package of 71 grams.  This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

•  Gladys Merriweather, 49, of Michigan City, Indiana was sentenced to 2 years of probation and ordered to pay over $59,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of insurance fraud utilizing the mail.  According to documents filed in this case, between April 2006 and May 2009, the defendant participated in an insurance fraud scheme wherein she, along with others, staged automobile accidents in Northwest Indiana and Chicago which resulted in claims and other documents being sent through the United States mail.  Merriweather was involved in staged automobile accidents which resulted in a loss of over $59,000 dollars.  This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

• Tomika Yates, 49, of Grand Prairie, Texas was sentenced to 2 years of probation and ordered to pay over $55,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  According to documents filed in this case, between December 2005 and July 2009, multiple defendants were involved in an insurance fraud scheme wherein they staged automobile accidents in Northwest Indiana and Chicago which resulted in claims and other documents being sent through the United States mail.  Yates was involved in staged automobile accidents which resulted in a loss of over $55,000 dollars.  . This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.