South Bend, Indiana - The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEA (before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein)
Javier Gomez-Sanchez, 31, of South Bend, Indiana, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of knowingly or intentionally distributing a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. The magistrate is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 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 Agency.Sentencing has been set for 6/5/2014.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
DISPOSITIONS( before District Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.)
Carmen Leon, 44, of Edinburg, Texas was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment with 5 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and conspiracy to commit money laundering.According to documents filed in this case, beginning in approximately 2000 and continuing into early 2010, Leon knowingly agreed with others to possess and distribute various illegal drugs throughout the country including Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina. The illegal drugs distributed included cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.Leon distributed these drugs using several other persons who would drive the drugs to specific locations and at times pick up proceeds from the sale of drugs and return them to Leon in Texas. From about 2003 to 2006, Leon supplied cocaine in Milwaukee on a regular basis for distribution.In February of 2009, the Border Patrol at Falfurrias, Texas seized approximately 26 kilograms of cocaine Leon had intended to distribute.During the same time period Leon utilized the buying and selling of nationwide auctioned automobiles to conceal her drug profits.Leon started a business known as CL Auto Sales that operated primarily in Texas for the purpose of concealment of her drug profits. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
Maria San Juana Fernandez, 41, of Edinburg, Texas was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment with 2 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements and penalty.According to documents filed in this case, in May 2007, Fernandez opened CL Auto Sales which was in actuality a business used for money laundering from illegal narcotics activities.Fernandez structured bank deposits in small enough volumes to avoid banking and federal scrutiny.This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
Cesar Leon, 23, of Edinburg, Texas was sentenced to a total of 70 months imprisonment for with 2 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and structuring money transactions to evade reporting requirements.According to documents filed in this case, during the fall of2008, Leon conspired with several persons to distribute marijuana in various states (including Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana) throughout the United States. Marijuana brought into Texas would be shipped by various means, including by vehicles, to these locations where the drugs were unloaded and distributed to others.Proceeds from these transactions were used at times to purchase vehicles. Leon was provided the funds those purchases and made cash payments under $10,000 in order to avoid the car dealers’ responsibility to report cash transactions over $10,000.This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
Abdul Amin Shabazz, 39, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment with 2 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of felon in possession of a firearm.According to documents filed in this case, Shabazz possessed a.32 caliber pistol which he attempted to discard along with a bag of marijuana while he ran from police officers.Shabazz has prior convictions including robbery, carrying a handgun without a license, possession of cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ken Hays.
Jose Patlan, 38, of Longansport, Indiana was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment with 4 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to deliver a mixture or substance that contained over five hundred (500) grams of cocaine and/or over 100 kilograms of marijuana.According to documents filed in this case, b etween May 2012, and July 2012, Patlan was involved with distributing marijuana in the Logansport, Indiana area.Law enforcement raided Patlan’s residence on July 16, 2012, and discovered marijuana and $1,500 from drug transactions. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
DISPOSTIONS (before District Judge Jon E. De Guilio)
Darius Witherspoon, 21, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced to 154 months, 3 years supervised release and to pay $66,965 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of bank robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.According to documents filed in this case, on July 10, 2013, Witherspoon with accomplices stole approximately $13,165 from a bank in Edwardsburg, Michigan. On August 7, 2013, Witherspoon with accomplices also stole approximately $53,800 belonging from a bank in Bristol, Indiana.Witherspoon brandished a firearm in both robberies. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.
Horacio Hernandez, 51, of Goshen, Indiana was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment with 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of reentry as a deported alien.According to documents filed in this case, in May 2011, Hernandez was deported as an aggravated felon through the Laredo, Texas port of entry. After his deportation, Hernandez illegally re-entered the country and was later arrested.This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Maciejczyk
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
