Activity in Federal Court – South Bend

SOUTH BEND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced:

Aaron Tubbs, 26, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced on 6/7/10 by Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 18 months’ imprisonment and six years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine). This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Colby Smith, 21, of Mishiwaka, Indiana, was sentenced on 6/3/10 by Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 33 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to unlawful transport of firearms. Smith admitted that he sold a firearm (a Sturm-Ruger .22 cal handgun) to another individual that he did not know was working for law enforcement. The handgun was determined to have not been manufactured in Indiana and had affected interstate or foreign commerce. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Vernon Taylor, 46, of South Bend, Indiana, plead guilty on 5/28/10 before Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to count one of an indictment charging him with unlawful transport of firearms. Taylor admitted that he had a locker for his employment at Morris Park Country Club in South Bend that contained a Taurus .45 cal. handgun. Taylor was previously convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison. The firearm he possessed was not manufactured in Indiana and had affected interstate or foreign commerce. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer. 

Jamel Farmer, 25, no known address, plead guilty on 6/7/10, before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to count one of an indictment charging him with bank robbery of Key Bank in South Bend, Indiana, and assault with a deadly weapon. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.

Jake Richardson III, 43, of Michigan City, Indiana plead guilty on 6/7/10, before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to count one of an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute over five grams of crack cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Heather Marvin, 30, in custody, pled guilty on 6/8/10, before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to count one of an indictment charging her with failure to surrender for service of sentence. Marvin admitted that she was convicted of bank fraud on January 7, 2010, and was ordered by Judge Miller to surrender to the U.S. Marshal’s Office in South Bend on February 18, 2010 to serve her sentence. She did not surrender to the Marshal’s Office on February 18, 2010. She was arrested by the Marshal’s several weeks later in a home in Michigan City, Indiana. This case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Richard Jennings, Jr., 43, in custody, pled guilty on 6/8/10, before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to count two of an indictment charging him with bank robbery by force or violence. Jennings admitted that he went into the First Source Bank in Elkhart, Indiana. He approached a teller in the bank and demanded cash from the teller and implied that he had a firearm. He did not have a firearm. The teller complied with this request and turned over cash. He did not dispute that his actions assaulted and put in jeopardy the life of another person. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshal’s Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

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.