May 16, 2014

Week in Review—Fort Wayne

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

Pleas (before Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey):

  • Brandon Sizemore, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of armed bank robbery. The magistrate is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bank Robbery Task Force. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
  • Phillip Biddle, 36, of Kendallville, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of possession of materials depicting minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The magistrate is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery.
  • Billy Gonzalez, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The magistrate is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force; Indiana State Police; Fort Wayne Police Department; Allen County Police Department; Allen County Drug Task Force; and the New Haven Police Department. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
  • Alejandro Luna, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The magistrate is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force; Indiana State Police; Fort Wayne Police Department; Allen County Police Department; Allen County Drug Task Force; and the New Haven Police Department. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.

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 (before District Judge Theresa L. Springmann):

  • Luis Tapia, 52, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. According to documents filed in this case, Tapia did knowingly open, lease, rent, use, and maintain a place in Fort Wayne for the purpose of distributing cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery.
  • Baldemar Robles, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 240 months, two years’ supervised release, and to pay $18,240 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly maintaining drug-involved premises and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to documents filed in this case, from August 2011 to September 2011, Robles did knowingly open, lease, rent, use, and maintain a place in Warsaw, Indiana, for the purpose of distributing cocaine and marijuana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Kosciusko County Drug Task Force; Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.