Week in Review – Hammond

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following:

Edward Kabella, 42, of Crown Point, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offenses of conspiring to provide false information to a federal firearms licensee, conspiring to defraud an agency of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration, and making false statements under oath on a tax return. Sentencing has been set for 12/19/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Defense Criminal Investigation Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Indiana State Police. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Benson.

Alejandro Briseno, 20, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 15 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the East Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Sean Russell, 31, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James T. Moody to 77 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of bank robbery of the Harris Bank in Valparaiso, and assault with a deadly weapon. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nozick.

Joseph E. Campbell, 37, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior Judge James T. Moody to 123 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release Hammond South Bend Fort Wayne after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of bank robberies of National City Bank in LaPorte, Indiana in July 2009; First Source Bank in Plymouth, Indiana and Valparaiso, Indiana in December 2009; Chase Bank in Chesterton, Indiana in January 2011; First Source Bank in Hebron, Indiana in January 2010; Fifth Third Bank in Rensselaer, Indiana in January 2010; Lake City Bank in Warsaw, Indiana in March 2010; and Centier Bank in Valparaiso, Indiana in March 2010. Campbell was also charged and pled guilty to four bank robberies in Michigan from January to February 2010 for which he was sentenced to 123 months’ imprisonment to be served concurrently with the robberies charged in Indiana. Restitution to the victims was ordered in the amount of $42,080.00. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.

Manuel Morell, Jr., 47, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to five months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of cocaine. Morell was ordered to serve five months of home detention within 30 days after release from prison. 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 Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

Yusseff Ihmoud, 43, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of trafficking in contraband cigarettes. This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.

Nicole Toney, 29, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior Judge James T. Moody to three years of probation to include 6 months of home detention after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to defraud the United States and misuse of a Social Security number. Toney was ordered to pay $28,272.25 in restitution. This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

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.