Indictments Returned in Hammond Federal Court

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced that the following Indictments were returned on November 8, 2012:

• Hoosier EMS Roy Dunn, 59, and Kahley Vergon-Mayotte, 27, both of Winimac, Indiana; and Anthony Bitterling, 39, of Monticello, Indiana, were charged in an indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
• Edwin Tollinchi-Rodriguez, 27, of East Chicago, Indiana, was charged in an indictment with aggravated sexual abuse. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the East Chicago Police Department; and the Lansing, Illinois Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.
• Kevin Paul Brewster, 40, of Portage, Indiana, was charged in an indictment with four counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portage Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.
• Austin Nwaka, dba Service Above Self, of Canby, Indiana, and Phyllis Lark, dba Absolute Care, of Hammond, Indiana, were charged in an indictment with health care fraud. Lark was also charged with making false statements to a federal agent. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
• Daron Moten, 23, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in an indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gary Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Armando Salinas, Jr.
• Michael J. Plake, 47, of Lafayette, Indiana, and Paul Cardwell, 46, formerly of Monticello, Indiana, were charged in an indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.

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.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.