Week In Review - South Bend

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

PLEAS

• Africa Gunn, 36, of South Bend, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to tax claims.  The magistrate 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 the Internal Revenue Service-CID.  Sentencing has been set for 9/18/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

• Oscar Martinez, 34, of Logansport, IN pled guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute cocaine over 500 grams.  The magistrate 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 the Drug Enforcement Agency.  Sentencing has been set for 9/25/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

• David Carranza, 32, of Goshen, IN pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly using a communication facility in causing or facilitating another felony.  The magistrate 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 the Drug Enforcement Agency.  Sentencing has been set for 9/17/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

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

• John O. Williams, 43, of Osceola, IN was sentenced to time served, 2 years supervised release, $36,962.50 restitution and a $100 special assessment fee after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property.  According to documents filed in this case, John O. Williams from in or around June 2010 through December 2010, applied for and received extended unemployment insurance benefits through the State of Indiana Department of Work Force Development. He submitted weekly vouchers to IDWD and intentionally answered “No” to the question as to whether he was working when in truth and in fact he was employed at Company A in Elkhart, Indiana during the specified week. He also failed to disclose that he received wages during that time period. He spent the unemployment benefit payments he received on personal expenses.  He does not dispute that the money for these unemployment insurance benefits came from the federal government, extended unemployment insurance benefits and ARRA funds and was in excess of $9,000.   This case was the result of an investigation by Department of Labor and Indiana Department of Work Force Development.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.

• Joseph D. McLaren, 31, Howe, IN was sentenced to 2 years supervised probation, Restitution of $44,002.25 and $100 special assessment after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property.  According to documents filed in this case, Joseph D. McLaren from in or around June 2009 through October 2010, applied for and received extended unemployment insurance benefits through the State of Indiana Department of Work Force Development. He submitted weekly vouchers to IDWD and intentionally answered “No” to the question as to whether he was working when in truth and in fact he was employed at Company A and/or Company B, in Elkhart, Indiana during the specified week. He also failed to disclose that he received wages during that time period. He spent the unemployment benefit payments he received on personal expenses because he needed the money. He does not dispute that the money for these unemployment insurance benefits came from the federal government, extended unemployment insurance benefits and ARRA funds and was in excess of $20,000.   This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor and Indiana Department of Work Force Development.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.