Fort Wayne, Indiana -The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEA
* Courtney Crusoe, 24, of Fort Wayne, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to commit money laundering. 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 Internal Revenue Service. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris-King.
* Alejandro Luna, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
* Calvin L. Miller, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offenses of armed bank robber, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and forcibly assaulting and impeding a postal employee. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Northeast Indiana Federal Bank Robbery Task Force, Allen County Police Department, Fort Wayne Police Department and Indiana State Police. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
* Marcel Banks, 24, of Fort Wayne, Indiana pled guilty to the felony offense of bank fraud. 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 Internal Revenue Service. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris-King.
* Brandon S. Keister, 22, of Russell, Kentucky pled guilty to the felony offense of theft/burglary of a licensed firearms dealer. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sentencing has not been set. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tina Nommay.
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
* Darnell Bontempo, 31, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a violent felon in possession of body armor. According to documents filed in this case, on May 31, 2013 members of the Northeast Indiana Federal Bank Robbery Task Force met with Bontempo regarding his reported stolen vehicle which was used in a robbery. When detectives arrived at the residence, Bontempo was found to be in possession of a ballistic vest. Further investigation revealed that Bontempo has a prior conviction for a crime of violence. In 2001, Bontempo pointed a semi-automatic handgun at another person at close range during an attempted auto theft. As result, Bontempo was charged with, and convicted of Criminal Recklessness as a Class D Felony. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Federal Bank Robbery Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery.
* Crissy Till, 38, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced to 2 years probation and to pay $51,949.18 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft/embezzlement of United States property. According to documents filed in this case, Till continued to receive and spend Social Security money paid to her father despite his death in February 2012. This case was the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tina Nommay
* Leobardo Gaona, 40, of Huntertown, Indiana was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment (time served) after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute less than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. According to documents filed in this case, between July, 2011 and February, 2013 investigation revealed the existence of a large scale narcotics distribution conspiracy operating in northeastern Indiana and southern lower Michigan. Through the use of several wiretaps, it was discovered that an individual by the name of Leobardo Gaona was obtaining quantities of cocaine. This case was the result of an investigation by FBI Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of FBI agents and officers from the Indiana State Police, Allen County Police Department, and Fort Wayne Police Department. The New Haven Police Department, Steuben County Sheriff's Department, Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit, South Bend Police Department, and IMAGE Drug Task Force assisted with this investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris-King.
* J.D. Richey, 65, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced to 2 years probation and to pay $7,300.00 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of embezzlement of labor organization funds. According to documents filed in this case, J.D. Richey worked for Norfolk Southern Railway. As secretary-treasurer, Richey was responsible for taking minutes and handling the union’s finances, including maintaining the financial books and records, and preparing and signing checks. The union had one checking account located and Richey was the sole signatory on the account. The bank statements were sent to Richey at this residence. During a March 2011 audit of the Union’s books, a National Division Auditor discovered that Richey had written a check $7,300 to himself and negotiated it, without the knowledge or authorization of the Union. In his discussion with union officials after discovery of the $7,300 check, Richey stated that he had intended the money to be a short term loan that he knew he had committed a wrong against the Union and that he would try to make amends. The National Division gave Richey an opportunity to repay the Union, but Richey failed to repay the money by an agreed upon deadline. This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris-King.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
