Week in Review—Hammond

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:

Pleas

• Justin Weaver, 20, of Hammond, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. Sentencing has been set for March 8, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the East Chicago Police Department; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Hammond Police Department and the Lake County HIDTA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
• Diane Smith, 48, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sentencing has been set for March 6, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Dispositions

• Christopher H. Cannon, 44, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 30 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $6,000 after being found guilty at trial of the felony offense of passing counterfeit obligations. 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.
• David Johnson, 29, of East Chicago, Indiana, a defendant in the case of U.S. v Webb et al., was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 120 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of narcotics after being found guilty at trial of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to a sentencing memorandum filed in this case, the evidence at trial proved that the conspiracy Johnson joined involved well over 280 grams of crack cocaine. Also established at trial, his residence was littered with firearms, bulletproof vests, scales, and the hallmarks of a narcotics trafficking organization. Johnson has a prior conviction for attempted first-degree murder. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA Task Force and the by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
• Jerome Scott, 24, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of manufacturing counterfeited Federal Reserve Notes. 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.