August 8, 2014

Week in Review—South Bend

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

PLEAS:

  • Ryan Dean Smith, 28, of Peru, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The magistrate judge 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sentencing has been set for 11/12/2014. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
  • Brock Crowe, 39, of Delphi, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly possessing cocaine. The magistrate judge 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, Cass County Drug Task Force, Indiana State Police and Illinois State Police Kankakee Area Metropolitan Group. Sentencing has been set for 11/10/ 2014. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
  • Jarvis Tolbert, 28, of South Bend, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly or intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing cocaine base over 28 grams. The magistrate judge 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 Drug Enforcement Administration. Sentencing has been set for 11/12/2014. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

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:

  • Arinda Nelly Garza, 46, of Rio Grande City, Texas was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to the felony offense of failure to appear. According to documents filed in this case, on or about December 16, 1998, Garza was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that alleged a conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. Garza was released from custody on conditions but then knowingly and willfully failed to appear for court proceedings in February 1999. Garza’s failure to appear continued until her arrest in January 2014. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William T. Grimmer.
  • Alvin Maurice Lipsey, 55, of Mishawaka, Indiana was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment and to pay restitution to Notre Dame Federal Credit Union ($1,493.00) and First Source Bank ($2,768.00) after pleading guilty to the felony offense of robbery of a federally insured bank while armed with a deadly weapon and knowingly using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to documents filed in this case, on July 11, 2012, Lipsey committed an armed robbery at Notre Dame Federal Credit Union in South Bend, Indiana. On August 22, 2-11, Lipsey also robbed a South Bend First Source Bank. This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
  • Kendrick Johnson, 30, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment with two years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possessing a firearm after he had been convicted of a felony. According to documents filed in this case, on August 2, 2013, Johnson possessed a loaded .9mm handgun in his residence. In 2005, he was convicted of dealing in cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.