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Week in Review – Federal Court

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 14, 2011
  • Northern District of Indiana (219) 937-5500

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

Torrence Welch, 33, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of an information charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. According to the government, in October 2007 the FBI made a controlled purchase of 13 grams of crack from Welch in Gary, Indiana. Welch remains on bond pending sentencing on 4/7/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Joseph Sloma, 32, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with theft of government property. Sloma submitted fraudulent documents in order to obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the state of Indiana and the U.S. Department of Labor. Sloma was gainfully employed when he obtained the UI benefits. Sentencing has been set for 4/21/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

Matthew Johnson, 31, of Crown Point, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with theft of government property. Johnson submitted fraudulent documents in order to obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the state of Indiana and the U.S. Department of Labor. Johnson was gainfully employed when he obtained the UI benefits. Sentencing has been set for 4/19/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.

Robin King, 49, of Kouts, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with possession of 100 or more marijuana plants with the intent to distribute marijuana. Sentencing has been set for 4/12/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Virginia Shimer, 41, of Lake Station, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to three years of probation, with the first year to be home detention after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging her with filing false income tax returns. This case was the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Collins.

Robert Evans, Jr., 30, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty without benefit of a plea agreement before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to counts one, two, and three of an indictment charging him with distribution of crack cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing has been set for 4/5/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Virgil Spencer, Sr., 58, of Flora, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Spencer was sentenced to two years probation and a $100 fine. Spencer has a prior felony theft conviction and prior misdemeanor convictions for theft and possession of marijuana. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Flora Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Isaias Madrigal-Martinez, 56, of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of an indictment charging him with illegal reentry of a deported alien. Madrigal-Martinez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing on 3/31/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Collins.

Jose Vargas Rodriguez, 38, of Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count two of an indictment charging him with drug trafficking (methamphetamine). Sentencing has been set for 3/30/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

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.

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