Week In Review – South Bend

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

PLEAS:

LaShaun Murry, 33, of Michigan City, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to the felony offense of being a felon 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 Drug Enforcement Administration.Sentencing has been set for 4/17/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Silvino Alonso-Pineda, 37, of South Bend, Indiana pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to the felony offense of illegally re-entering the United States after being deported and having a prior aggravated felony as well as possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Sentencing has been set for 4/23/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Vernado Malone, 37, of Indianapolis, Indiana pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to the felony offense of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation .Sentencing has been set for 4/17/2014.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:

Taja Anderson, 25, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Jon E. DeGuilio to 21 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release and to pay $13,131 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being an accessory after the fact to bank robbery.According to documents filed in this case, in April 2013, Anderson, fully aware of a bank robbery, aided bank robbers, including Kendra Winston, and attempted to prevent an arrest.Anderson drove with the other involved persons to a parking lot near the bank in downtown South Bend. After the robbery, Anderson went with the robbers to a casino to “clean” the money that was stolen from the bank. She also allowed the involved individuals to stay at her residence after the theft.Anderson accepted money as payment for her part in attempting to conceal the crime.This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.

Kendra Winston, 25, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Jon E. DeGuilio to 21 months imprisonment with 2 years supervised release and to pay $13,131.00 in restitution, after pleading guilty to the felony offense of with armed bank robbery.According to documents filed in this case, in April 2013, Winston aided in the robbery of a bank in South Bend, Indiana.Specifically, Winston drove with the robber and Taja Anderson to the bank in downtown South Bend on April 11, 2013. After the bank was robbed, Winston and the others involved drove away from the bank and Winston was to dispose of the vehicle. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.