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Activity in Federal Court – Hammond

U.S. Attorney’s Office October 08, 2009
  • Northern District of Indiana (219) 937-5500

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced several events taking place in the District Court,  Hammond, Indiana:

Nathaniel Wheeler, 36, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, one 9mm Walther Semi-Automatic Pistol loaded with ammunition, before Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen. Wheeler was convicted of theft in 1995. The maximum penalties on this charge are 10 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing has been set for January 21, 2010. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

James Allen Ciammetti, 42, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, pled guilty before Judge James Moody to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, and Manufacturing Child Pornography. The plea agreement in this case calls for a sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and 20 years of supervised release. Ciammetti was a band teacher at George Rogers Clark Middle School in Hammond, Indiana. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Benson and Jill Trumbull Harris.

James Vickery, 62, of Hobart, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge James Moody to being a felon in possession of a firearm, having been convicted of burglary in 1967, and statutory rape in 1977. Upon conviction, Vickery will forfeit a General Precision Corporation .22 caliber revolver, a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, a Beretta, .9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Ruger .22 caliber revolver, a Smith and Wesson .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Smith and Wesson .9mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition consisting of multiple rounds of Winchester .9mm and Federal 12 gauge ammunition. The maximum possible penalties that may be imposed upon conviction of the Indictment are: 10 years’ imprisonment; a fine of $250,000, or both such fine and imprisonment; up to a maximum of a three-year term of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100.00 in addition to any other penalty imposed. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

Christopher Osborne, 36, of Center Township, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge James Moody to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. The maximum possible penalty that may be imposed upon conviction of the offense is 20 years in prison, and a fine up to $1,000,000. This case was investigated by the FBI/Porter County Drug Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Tommie Lee Thompson, 23, of Illinois, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to four counts of distributing a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. Each count carries a possible term of imprisonment up to 20 years, a fine up to one million ($1,000,000.00) dollars and a special assessment of $100.00, in addition to any other penalty imposed. There is a mandatory minimum term of three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the FBI/GRIT Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.

James Williams, 42, of Kankakee, Illinois, was charged by indictment with bank robbery by force or violence, assault with a deadly weapon, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and the aggravated bank robbery of Kentland Bank in Lake Village, Indiana. This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Newton County Police Department, and is being prosecuted by  Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Samuel Gant, 35, of Gary, Indiana, was charged by indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which was a Rossi .38 caliber revolver with ammunition. Gant was convicted of battery in 1998.  The maximum sentence for this charge is 10 years’ incarceration, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. This case is being  investigated by the ATF-HIDTA, and is being prosecuted by  Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.

Timothy Miglieri, 31, of East Chicago, Indiana, was charged by indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which was a  Smith & Wesson, .357 Magnum caliber revolver. Miglieri was convicted of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon in 2002 in Cook County, Illinois, and Criminal Mischief Delivery in Lake County, Indiana, in 2002. The maximum penalties are 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. This case is being  investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by  Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

Chat Retic, Jr., 44, of Gary, Indiana, was charged by indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which was a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber automatic pistol. Retic was previously convicted of auto theft. The maximum penalty for this charge is 10 years’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release; $250,000 fine; $100 special assessment. This case is being  investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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.

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