Week in Review—Hammond

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

Indictment:

• Lori Lloyd, 37, of East Chicago, Indiana, was charged in an indictment returned on March 8, 2012 with dealing in counterfeit obligations. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that these charges are merely allegations and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Pleas:

• Shari Mari-Victoria Washington, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of fraudulent purchase of firearms. Sentencing has been set for June 7, 2012. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Chicago Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.

• Rasheta Smith, of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to bank fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Sentencing has been set for July 10, 2012. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.

• Francisco Ramirez, 50, of East Chicago, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of receipt of a bribe by an agent of local government receiving federal funds in the case U.S. v Lozano et al. Sentencing has been set for August 31, 2012. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.

The specific sentence to be imposed in each case upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Dispositions:

• Arnulfo Hernandez, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 51 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Custom Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.

• George Doukas, 50, of Reddick, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 51 months’ imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to Fifth Third Bank of $4038 after pleading guilty to the felony offense of bank robbery. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force and the Munster Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.

• Alondra Deshazer, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to four months’ imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and four months of home detention after the term of incarceration after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to defraud the United States. This case was the result of an investigation by. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

• Tyrell McCoy, 34, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 36 months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of misuse of a Social Security number on an application to obtain a state of Indiana identification card and fraud with identification documents. McCoy was ordered to pay restitution to the Department of Services of $1634.98 and $1992 to Discover Financial Services. This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.

• Gene Nowell, 37, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Rudy Lozano to 37 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release, which includes 100 hours of community service, after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy 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 Joshua Kolar.