Hammond, IN-(ENEWSPF)- The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in federal court:
Indictment:
Demetrius Moore, 42, of Merrillville, Indiana, was charged in an indictment returned on February 7, 2013, with theft of government property (designated unemployment benefits). These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.
Pleas:
- Luis Yanez, 41, of Lorain, Ohio, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry to the felony offense of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Magistrate Cherry 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. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
- Amin Guillermo Velazquez, 32, of Rensselaer, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. Sentencing has been set for 6/27/13. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Illinois State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
- Tracey Tigner, 42, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of embezzlement and theft from a labor union. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by United States Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Labor Management Standards. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.
- Marilyn Krusas, 69, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of tax evasion. Sentencing has been set for July 11, 2013. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.
- Octavio Alejandre-Mata, 44, of Hobart, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of distribution of cocaine. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.
- Phyllis Lark, 46, of Hammond, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Nwaka et al., pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of submitting fraudulent claims to Indiana Medicaid. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
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:
- Maxie Rallings, Jr., 42, Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 60 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine. According to documents filed by the government in this case, Rallings delivered over 28 grams of crack cocaine to an individual who was working for law enforcement. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
- Lynn Little, 42, of West Lafayette, Indiana, a defendant in the case U.S. v Patlan et al., was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to time served and four years of supervised release, to include eight months of home detention and 200 hours of community service, after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of marijuana. According to documents filed by the government in this case, Little admitted that she was involved with supplying Jose Patlan with marijuana that she believed he was distributing in the Logansport, Indiana area. When law enforcement searched her home in West Lafayette, Indiana, officers found $12,000 in United States currency from drug transactions. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the Cass county Sheriff’s Department, and the Illinois State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
Source: FBI.GOV
