Week in Review—South Bend

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

Dispositions

• Bart Star Bush, 32, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 51 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, Bush admitted at the time that he possessed and sold a firearm he was a multi-convicted felon, having previously been convicted of burglary, possession of marijuana, breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny, and theft. He had also been previously convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm (2005). This case was the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
• Haley Elizabeth Smith, 19, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 21 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of making false declarations before a grand jury/court. Smith lied during grand jury proceedings in January and February 2012 that was investigating criminal gang activities, federal gun crimes, and violent crimes. This case was the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
• Suraj-Amir-Bey a/k/a Dane Macon, 47, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to time served and two years of supervised release after being found guilty of the felony offenses of use of a document or paper purporting to be an identification card upon which a seal of any department or agency of the United States, specifically the United States Department of Justice, had been fraudulently affixed and receipt of a counterfeit government seal. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth Hays.
• Cesar Perez-Carillo, 34, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 151 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine and racketeering. According to his plea agreement, Perez-Carillo admitted that he was involved in the distribution of approximately 450 pounds of marijuana as well as causing others to travel in interstate commerce to pick up the load of marijuana in Indiana. This case was the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
• Jesse Newman, 22, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 18 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, Newman purchased two firearms after having been convicted of burglary in Miami County, Indiana. This case was the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
• Gerardo Garcia, 22, of South Bend, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Ruelas et al., was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 84 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of distribution of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This case was the result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
• Jason Rife, 36, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 151 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
• Rogelio Beltran, 27, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 168 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and of money laundering. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.