Activity in Federal Court – Hammond

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney's Office announced the following activity in federal court:

Mario Ruff, 28, of the 7500 block of Magnolia Avenue, Hammond, Indiana, was charged in an indictment with one count of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force, and the Gary Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

David Lee, 46, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to counts one through five of an indictment charging him with bank robbery by force or violence of the TCF Bank in Dyer, Indiana; the Chase Bank in Munster, Indiana, and Dyer, Indiana; the Harris Bank in Munster, Indiana, and Schererville, Indiana. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Munster, Dyer, and Schererville Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe.

Jermaine Gentle, 27, of St. Petersberg, Florida, and Gian Thompson, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to count one of an indictment charging them with kidnapping. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.