Week In Review – South Bend

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

PLEA

• Alfred Frank Dillard, 55, of South Bend, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Sentencing has been set for 12/22/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

• Carlis Young, 37, of Indianapolis, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while possessing a firearm. 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Sentencing has been set for 12/18/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.

• Jesus A. Campos, 35, of Mexico pled guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 100 kilograms. 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Sentencing has been set for 12/23/2014.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William T. Grimmer.

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

• Melvin Darnell White, 27, of Elkhart, Indiana was sentenced to time served with 3 years supervised release and 9 months home detention after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  According to documents filed in this case, White had previously been convicted of a felony drug charged in LaPorte County, Indiana in 2009.   On July 2nd, 2012, White had in his possession an Iberia Hi Point JC caliber pistol that he had agreed to sell to someone. 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 William T. Grimmer.

• Shan Skinner, 44, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment with 2 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  According to documents filed in this case, Skinner possessed a Cobra handgun  in Laporte County, Indiana.  He had been convicted of a felony firearm violation in Illinois in 2005. 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 Frank Schaffer.

• David Carranza, 31, of Goshen, Indiana was sentenced to 1 year probation and to pay a fine of $1000 after pleading guilty to the felony offense of using a communication facility in causing or facilitating another felony.  According to documents filed in this case, Carranza used a telephone to facilitate a narcotics transaction. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer. 

• Africa Gunn, 37 of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release and to pay $106,225.91 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims.  According to documents filed in this case, Gunn participated with others in a false tax return preparation and filing scheme in South Bend, Indiana.  Individuals prepared and submitted Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, with false or inflated Forms W-2 to obtain false tax refunds.  As a result of this scheme, approximately 1,189 tax returns were submitted in tax years 2008-2010, requesting approximately $3,543,794.00 in false tax refunds.  Gunn opened and controlled bank accounts that received refunds from the false taxes returned and shared in the proceeds from these false returns. This case was the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.