Week In Review – South Bend

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

PLEAS (before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein):

Felix Gonzalez-Cedillo, 47, of Granger, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Magistrate Nuechterlein 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.Sentencing has been set for 5/16/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Brian Cruz, 37, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of failure to register as required under the sex offender registration and notification act. Magistrate Christopher A. Nuechterlein 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 Marshal Service.Sentencing has been set for 5/16/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Maciejczyk.

(pled before District Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.)

Robert Alexander Loft, 45, of Mishawaka, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Sentencing has been set for 5/20/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

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:

Richard Maxson, 50, of Elkhart, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. to 21 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release and to pay $30,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally possessing a vehicle which had an altered or removed VIN number with the intent to dispose of the vehicle.According to documents filed in this case, in February 2013, law enforcement stopped a truck Maxson was driving while hauling a Case skid-steer loader. Maxson had rented the skid-steer loader the day before and was aware the VIN number had been altered or removed. Maxson admitted to being in possession of the skid-steer loader and his intent to dispose of it.This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Jacalyn Selman, 54, of Kouts, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Jon E. DeGuilio to 2 years supervised probation and to pay $502.00 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of embezzling mail.According to documents filed in this case, in December 2012 through July 2013, Selman, a Postal Service employee, embezzled mail which came into her possession. This case was the result of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.