HAMMOND- Telisha French, 45, of Gary, Indiana, was indicted for attempting to obstruct justice, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

The indictment alleges that on November 14, 2019, French attempted to obstruct the decision-making of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana by causing an attorney to present a false document with a forged signature to the magistrate court in support of a defendant’s release from custody.   

U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch II said, “My office will not hesitate to utilize all resources available to investigate and to prosecute individuals who engage in behavior designed to impede the administration of justice in federal criminal cases.”

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Gang Response Investigative Team.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Mahoney and Alexandra McTague.

HAMMOND - Acting United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced federal drug conspiracy charges against 20 individuals all residing in Gary, Indiana. Named in the indictment are:

 





Antonio Walton, a/k/a “Buck”, age 40 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Yahtzee Harris, a/k/a “Black”, age 38 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of being a felon in possession of a firearm





1 count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime





5 counts of distribution of crack cocaine







Claude Tate, age 49 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine







Dujuana Dubose, age 44 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of distribution of crack cocaine







John Tyson, age 55 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of distribution of crack cocaine







Kevin Hatter, age 28 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of distribution of crack cocaine







Christopher Green, a/k/a “Unc”, age 43 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





2 counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of being a felon in possession of a firearm





1 count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime







Telisha French, a/k/a “TiTi”, age 43 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Keana Porter, age 33 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime







Janice Walton, age 66 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine







Ben Hickman, Jr, age 46 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine







Charles Gould, a/k/a “Mooney”, age 34 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Courtney Crouch, age 23 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







David Mackey, age 43 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Emmanuel French, a/k/a “E”, age 30 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Leroy Elmore, age 64 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Richard Smith, age 45 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Robert Blue, age 51 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







Rosalind Cherry, age 62 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine





1 count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine







Termaine Ervin, age 33 was charged with:



1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine







 

According to documents in this case, the above individuals were charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. In addition to the conspiracy charges, some were charged with a substantive charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and firearms violations. Four firearms were seized as a result of these arrests. This indictment is part of the ongoing effort by local and federal law enforcement to remove criminal organizations from the streets of northwest Indiana.

 

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

 

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.

 

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gang Response Investigative Team with the assistance of Gary and Hobart Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas R. Mahoney.

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