A LaPorte man who pleaded guilty to making child pornography and explosives has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. Court documents say Eric R. Weiler, 46, drugged people so they would be unconscious while he made a video of himself performing sex acts on an unconscious child, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch.
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A Kouts man has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for charges stemming from a series of arson fires at a mobile home park near North Judson. Michael Thomas, 42, was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch. A jury found him guilty of mail fraud almost a year ago.
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A LaPorte man has reportedly pleaded guilty to making child pornography and explosives. Eric R. Weiler, 46, entered the guilty plea before a U.S. magistrate judge, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch.
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A South Bend man has been sentenced to almost 22 years in prison, in connection with a LaPorte County traffic stop that reportedly turned up heroin, crack, and a .38 caliber revolver back in April. Marvin Cates, 43, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office.
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A Kouts man has been found guilty in connection with an apparent insurance fraud scheme involving several properties in the North Judson area. A jury found Michael Thomas, 41, guilty after a four-day trial in U.S. District Court, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch.
A Rolling Prairie man was sentenced to 15 years in prison, following a series of armed robberies in LaPorte and St. Joseph Counties. Timothy Bennitt, 27, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in South Bend, for robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
A Westville man was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Continue reading
A Chicagoland area man who was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute heroin by a federal jury in February learned his fate earlier this week. Antwon Williams, 46, of Richton Park, Ill. was sentenced to 20.5 years in prison and four years of supervised release. Continue reading
A Salyersville, Ky. man was sentenced this week to 10 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution in connection with the theft of lumber from land in Cass County, Ind. Continue reading
The co-owner of a Buffalo-based private ambulance service accused of defrauding Medicare has been sentenced in federal court. Continue reading
A former LaPorte County chief deputy auditor was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court on embezzlement, tax and wire fraud charges.
Mary Ray, 68, of LaPorte, was sentenced to seven years in prison. She was also ordered to forfeit more than $137,000 and pay more than $801,000 in restitution. She was convicted last September of two counts of theft of government monies, two counts of making false statements on a tax return and seven counts of wire fraud. Continue reading
A prescription dosing error and an apparent rush to judgment by state officials nearly a decade ago following the 2005 death of a Francesville girl cost her family their livelihood, home and reputations. Roman and Lynette Finnegan and their surviving children recently won a $31.5 million judgment against DCS officials and others involved in the investigation of their 14-year-old daughter Jessica’s death. She suffered from congestive heart failure and died as a result of an accidental overdose due to a prescribing error, according to court documents. Earlier this week Roman spoke exclusively with WKVI News and said he had no idea he and his wife were suspects in their daughter’s death.
10-09-15
A Starke County family whose 14-year-old daughter died in 2005 has been awarded a $31.3 million federal judgment against the state employees who accused the parents of being responsible for her death. Continue reading
The former director of the Walkerton Public Library was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in federal prison for misuse of funds. Court documents indicate Scott Klingerman, 45, used more than $26,000 in library funds to pay for vacations and health club memberships. Continue reading
A LaPorte man pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to a drug charge. Continue reading
The former Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library Director has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two of the 10 felony charges filed against him. Scott Klingerman faced 10 counts of wire fraud. He’s accused of using the library’s debit card to pay for vacations, health club memberships and other personal business. Continue reading
A former LaPorte County deputy auditor has been charged with embezzling more than $150,000 from the LaPorte County government and committing tax fraud.
The federal grand jury indictment against Mary Ray, 66, of LaPorte was returned on Wednesday which charges Ray with two counts each of theft of government monies and making false statements on a tax return.
A Medaryville man was sentenced in U.S. District Court this week.
James Huddleston, 42, was sentenced to 18 months in prison 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, embezzled $134,054 which caused Lake Ridge to incur associated fees. Court documents indicate that gambled with much of the money he embezzled. Huddleston failed to report the embezzled income to the IRS and owes the IRS $25,000 in taxes as a result of the crime.
The former Walkerton Library director is scheduled to appear in federal court today. Scott Klingerman is accused of spending more than $40,000 worth of library funds on vacations, gas, car insurance and a health club membership. Continue reading
A Kewanna man was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to two years and three months in prison and two years of supervised release after a jury found him guilty of making false statements during firearm acquisition. Continue reading
