Week in Review – Hammond

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

William Wicks, 47, of Chesterton, Indiana, was charged in an indictment unsealed this week with making false statements in the purchase of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Wicks was previously convicted of the felony offense of burglary in 1983. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Martin Soto, 30, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 63 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute narcotics in the case U.S. v Jose Perez et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Charles Webb, 36, of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Sentencing has been set for 7/14/11. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Nathaniel Milligan, Jr., 42, of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana in the case U.S. v Charles Webb et al. Sentencing has been set for 7/29/11. 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 Joshua Kolar.

Nathaniel Baxter, 29, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 120 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with distribution of cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe.

Eloy Ortega, 38, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of an Information charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Sentencing has been set for 7/27/11. 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.

Gabriel Guerro Corona, 38, of Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count two of an indictment charging him with distribution of methamphetamine in the case U.S. v Rodriguez et al. Sentencing has been set for 7/27/11. 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.

James Lewis Williams, 43, of Kankakee, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to count one of an indictment charging him with the bank robbery of the Kentland Bank in Lake Village, Indiana, and assault with a deadly weapon. Williams also pled guilty to count one of a second indictment charging him with the bank robbery of the Shapiro Development Center Employee’s Credit Union in Kankakee, Illinois. 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 David Nozick.

Mark Chambers, 30, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Erick Rivera, 24, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to 24 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with distribution of crack cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Christopher Osborne, 37, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to 21 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to count three of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Marlon Blades, 32, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to count one of a superseding indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case U.S. v Jermaine Gentle et al. 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.