Week in Review—Hammond

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:

Pleas:

• Terry Carlisle, 55, of Mooresville, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Sentencing has been set for November 29, 2012. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Bell and David Nozick.
• Sergio Robles, 24, of Hammond, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Vargas et al., pled guilty before Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offenses of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and marijuana. Sentencing has been set for January 15, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center (GangTECC); the National Gang Intelligence Center; the Chicago Police Department; the Griffith Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the Highland Police Department; the Lake County, Indiana HIDTA; and the Houston, Texas Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Joseph Cooley.
• Shawn Pitts, 41, formerly of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of mail fraud. Sentencing has been set for December 4, 2012. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.
• Earkle Tyler, 36, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
• Dewayne Hutton, 43, of, Merrillville, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Tyler et al., pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang Adiga.

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.

Disposition:

• Charles Montgomery, 39, of Merrillville, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James Moody to 46 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine. Montgomery acknowledged in his plea agreement that he sold 28 grams or more of crack cocaine to an individual for $1,600. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force and the Lake Station Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.