Week in Review – Federal Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 07, 2011 |
HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced:
Darrel Newman, 30, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior Judge James Moody to count one of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Newman was previously convicted of unlawful use of a firearm in 1998. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives HIDTA Task Force, and the Hammond Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Denny Minix, 22, of Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to count two of an indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. Sentencing has been set for 3/18/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Evansville Police Department, and the Kokomo Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Trumbull Harris.
Robert Alvelo, Sr., 50, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 46 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of 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 Jacqueline Jacobs.
James Wilkerson, 30, of Lake Station, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 77 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count of an indictment charging him with drug trafficking (cocaine), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force, and the Lake Station Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Kolar and Thomas Ratcliffe.
Branko Nenadic, 27, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 15 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release, if not deported, after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with interstate transport of stolen goods. This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.
Stanton Cephus, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge Rudy Lozano to 324 months’ imprisonment. This terms consists of 60 months for count 1s; 120 months for each of counts 7s, 9s, 11s, 13s, 17s, 20s and 21s; and 324 months for each of counts 6s, 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s; all of said terms to be served concurrently. Cephus pled guilty to sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and transporting for prostitution. This case is the result of an investigation by the Chicago Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Resident Agency with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Merrillville Resident Agency. Also instrumental in the investigation have been the Hammond Police Department, the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Vice Unit, the Sauk Village Police Department, and the Steger Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jill Trumbull Harris and Philip Benson.
Warren Mills, 34, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 21 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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 Nicholas Padilla.
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.