Activity in Federal Court – Hammond

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced:

Jamaal Cherry, 26, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced on 1/4/10, by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 41 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; a a Rohm, Model RG-38, .38 caliber revolver. Cherry was convicted of robbery in 2005 in the Circuit Court of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. This case is being investigated by the ATF/HIDTA Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Tyris Shepard, 28, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced on 12/29/09, by Senior Judge James Moody, to 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, to wit; a Kel Tec model SU-16.223 caliber REM caliber rifle. Shepard was convicted of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2002 in Rock Island, Illinois. This case was investigated by, and was prosecuted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

John Portis, 30, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced on 12/29/09, by Senior Judge James Moody, to 27 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of crack cocaine. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation/GRIT Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Eugene Dajuan Baber, 25, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty on 12/28/09, before Judge Rudy Lozano to distribution of crack cocaine. Sentencing has been set for March 10, 2010. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation/GRIT Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Ramone St Jacque Wilkes, 35, currently incarcerated, pled guilty on 12/30/09, before Senior Judge James Moody to 3 counts of making false and fictitious material statements and representations on his probation and monthly supervision report. This case was investigated by U.S. Probation and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement , and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Trumbull-Harris.

Antonio Hernandez, 36, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty on 1/7/10 before Senior Judge James Moody to possessing a firearm and ammunition being illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Sentencing has been set for March 23, 2010. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Daniel Kawzinski, 49, of Lake Station, Indiana, pled guilty on 1/7/10 before Judge Rudy Lozano to Counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of a Superseding Indictment. Counts 2 and 3 of the Superseding Indictment charged distribution of a substance found to contain marijuana. Count 4 of the Superseding Indictment charged possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Count 5 of the Superseding Indictment charged making false representations with respect to a Social Security account number with intent to deceive. Counts 7 and 8 of the Superseding Indictment charged making false and fictitious material statements and representations in matters within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the government of the United States. Sentencing has been set for March 18, 2010. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Lake Station Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Trumbull-Harris.

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.