Week in Review – Hammond

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

Whitney James, 26, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 21 months’ imprisonment and four 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 GRIT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ratcliffe.

Keystone Hatcheries, a division of Robinson Wholesale Inc., located in Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to restitution to the Department of Natural Resources of $35,000 after pleading guilty to an information charging the corporation with the sale of, or intent to sell, live fish despite being explicitly prohibited by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from importing any fish into Lake County, Indiana without a valid permit. Defendant’s permit to do so was revoked following an outbreak of Whirling Disease at Defendant’s Illinois facility approximately a year earlier. Whirling disease is a water-borne microscopic parasite which causes physical deformities disrupting normal feeding and swimming behavior of certain species of fish, ultimately killing them. The restitution amount is to be used toward monitoring Whirling Disease in the State of Indiana waters. The defendant was also order to pay a fine of $40,000. The Government requested that the fine be directed to the Lacey Act Reward fund, which is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reward those who provide information about wildlife crimes and to pay the costs incurred in caring for fish, wildlife, or plants that are being held as evidence in ongoing investigations. This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with critical assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Natural resources. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.

Jermaine Alexander Gentle, 27, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 120 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case U.S. v Blades et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Michael Bennett, 27, of Evanston, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 262 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release if not deported after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case U.S. v Gentle et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Dennis Richards, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 168 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case U.S. v Gentle et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Lamont Williams, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 262 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of a superseding indictment charging him with interstate kidnaping in the case U.S. v Gentle et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Oscar DeLeon, 56, of Crestwood, Illinois, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to count one of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Sentencing has been set for 9/28/11. 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.

Terry Lee Thomas, 48, of Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count one of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. Sentencing has been set for 9/23/11. 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.

Tracy Butler, 43, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 39 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to counts one and three of an information charging her with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $154,876.71. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.

Antonio Cantu, 36, of Crown Point, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to count one of an indictment charging him with the bank robbery of Chase Bank in Michigan City, Indiana. Sentencing has been set for 9/28/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Michigan City Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Alfredo Oropeza, 45, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to counts two and four of a superseding indictment charging him with making a false oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, and with being an alien in possession of a firearm. Sentencing has been set for 9/21/11. 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 Jill Koster.

George Tedeschi, 52, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to two years’ probation and eight months of home detention after pleading guilty to count 13 of a superseding indictment charging him with using a communication facility in the commission of a felony, namely possession with the intent to distribute cocaine in the case U.S. v Lopez et al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

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.