September 5, 2014

Week in Review—Hammond

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

DISPOSITIONS:

  • Otis Irvin, Jr , 40 of Gary, Indiana was sentenced to 24 months’ probation after pleading guilty to the felony offense of Distribution Of Crack Cocaine. According to documents filed in this case, in 2013, the FBI GRIT Task Force purchased a total 10 grams of crack cocaine during three controlled purchases from Irvin in Gary. This case was the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.
  • James Huddleston, 42, of Medaryville, Indiana was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $53,790.49 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds And Forfeiture Allegations. According to documents filed in this case, from August 2011 through April 2013, Huddleston, while employed as the business manager for the Lake Ridge Public Schools in Gary, Indiana, embezzled $134,054, caused Lake Ridge to incur associated fees and spent much of the money gambling. Huddleston failed to report the embezzled income to the IRS and owes the IRS $25,000 in taxes as a result of the crime. To date, Huddleston has repaid all but $53,790.49 of the amount of restitution ordered. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Bell and Dean Lanter.
  • Mario M. Stokes, 41, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of firearms. According to documents filed in this case, on or about December 4, 2013, law enforcement officers executed a Federal search warrant at 2200 Taney Street, Stokes’ residence. Investigators located a safe in a closet in a bedroom of the residence. Stokes provided the combination to the safe. When asked if there was anything in the safe that they should know about, Stokes stated that the safe contained “some marijuana and some money.” Upon opening the safe, investigators located approximately $11,600 cash and approximately 1.2 pounds of marijuana. Additionally, in the safe was a S&W .40 caliber handgun with a magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition and 1 round in the chamber. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
  • Richard Dickus, 72, of Hebron, Indian, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $217,996.35 in restitution to the Social Security Administration after pleading guilty to the felony offense of embezzlement and stealing money from the Social Security Administration. According to documents filed in this case, for over 22 years, from May 1991 through November 2013, Dickus stole and converted to his own use monthly social security benefits of his deceased mother, with the total amount of social security benefits stolen by Dickus being $217,996.35. This case was the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter.