Week in Review—South Bend

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

Pleas:

• Wilbur Crawford, 19, of South Bend, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Thomas et al., pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and crime of violence. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for October 1, 2012. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the South Bend Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
• Jason Strell, 38, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of enticement of a minor for production of child pornography. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for September 27, 2012. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Joseph County Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Maciejczyk.

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:

• Roderick Sinclair, 28, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 117 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after being found guilty to the felony offenses of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. According to the sentencing memorandum filed by the government in this case, Sinclair was caught trafficking in marijuana while armed and has a long history of illegal drug and gun possession. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.