Week in Review—Hammond

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

Pleas:

• Robert Lockhart, 20, of East Chicago, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Briseno et al., pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the East Chicago Police Department; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, and the Lake County HIDTA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.
• Jeremiah Stevenson, 22, of Gary, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Elmore et al., pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offenses of robbery and use of a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. Sentencing has been set for April 11, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the East Chicago Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Gary Police Department, and the Merrillville Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.
• Lavelle Hatley, 18, of Gary, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Elmore et al., pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of robbery. Sentencing has been set for April 11, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the East Chicago Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Gary Police Department, and the Merrillville Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

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.

Dispositions:

• Cesar Yepez, 32, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to one day of imprisonment considered time served as of the date of Yepez’ arrest and two years of supervised release, to include 12 months of home detention, after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
• Kevin Weston, 34, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 45 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to documents filed by the government in this case, law enforcement officers entered Weston’s residence to execute a state search warrant. Weston admitted to hiding the firearm when he heard officers entering the house. Weston also told the officers where they could find the magazine for the firearm. The defendant has two prior convictions for controlled substance offenses (manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance) and a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance. He also has misdemeanor convictions for battery and domestic battery and a large number of prior arrests. This case was the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
• Efrain Hernandez, 28, of Cicero, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 78 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
• Frederick Rivera, 39, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 52 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine. According to documents filed by the government in this case, Rivera made three cocaine base sales to a confidential informant while on supervised release for a prior narcotics trafficking conviction. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.