Press Release
Week In Review - South Bend
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Indiana
South Bend, Indiana — The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS
- Maricruz Mendoza, aka Erika L. Luna, 36, of Elkhart, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property. 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 Department of Labor and the Indiana Department of Work Force Development. Sentencing has been set for 10/16/ 2014. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.
- Alfonso Serrano, 46, of Logansport, Indiana 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 Administration. Sentencing has been set for 10/17/2014. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
- Jose Luis Lopez, 24, of Logansport, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of distribution of cocaine. 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 Administration. Sentencing has been set for 10/17/2014. 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
- Daniel Haslam, 43, of Crawfordsville, Indiana was sentenced to 181 months imprisonment with 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of possession of unregistered silencers, illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of multiple firearms as a drug user and possession of multiple firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to documents filed in this case, Haslam had a number of completed firearm silencers as well as silencers that he was still manufacturing. Additionally, there were a number of firearms in the house (several loaded rifles, a shotgun, and a revolver). Haslam was manufacturing and using methamphetamine. Records for pseudoephedrine purchases show that Haslam made 30 pseudoephedrine purchases in 2011 and through August 2012. Local police executed a search warrant and discovered evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing and use, ammunition and multiple firearms and silencers. None of the silencers or firearms were registered to Haslam in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald J. Schmid.
- Davon Stewart, 39, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 106 months imprisonment with 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of possessing cocaine base (crack) with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to documents filed in this case, local law enforcement went to a residence in South Bend searching for a wanted individual. At the location being visited, Stewart answered the door and gave officers consent to enter and search. Officers detected and observed marijuana within the location. Stewart readily admitted that he smoked marijuana. After officers obtained search warrants for the residence, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine was discovered. Near the gun, police found 4 grams of crack cocaine and 6 grams of powder cocaine in two plastic baggies. Officers also discovered a video surveillance system, digital scales, ammunition, additional cocaine powder concealed in a ceiling fan and marijuana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
- Tiffany J. Miller, 28, of Ligonier, Indiana was sentenced to 2 years probation and to pay $15,062 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property. According to documents filed in this case, from in or around September 2010 through August 2011, Miller applied for and received extended unemployment insurance benefits through the State of Indiana Department of Work Force Development (IDWD.) Miller submitted weekly vouchers to IDWD and intentionally answered “No” to the question asking if she was working when in truth she was employed in Elkhart, Indiana during the specified week. Miller also failed to disclose she received wages during that time period. This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor and the Indiana Department of Work Force Development. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.
- Patrick J. Condon, Jr., 41, of South Bend Indiana was sentenced to 2 years probation and to pay $40,251.50 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property. According to documents filed in this case, April 2010 through July 2011, Condon applied for and received extended unemployment insurance benefits through the State of Indiana Department of Work Force Development (IDWD). Condon submitted weekly vouchers to IDWD and intentionally answered “No” to the question asking if he was working when in truth and in fact he was employed in Elkhart, Indiana during the specified week and earned wages. This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor and the Indiana Department of Work Force Development. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.
Updated April 30, 2015
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