Indy man sentenced to 30 years in prison for string of armed robberies
U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Javonte Smith, 34, of Indianapolis, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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When will the federal judge vacancy be filled in Indiana’s Southern District?
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson assumed senior status in July. But there has been no nominee announced to fill her vacancy on the district court, and there won’t be one this year.
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Vacancy looms as federal judge heads toward senior status
It’s taken a little longer than expected for the Biden Administration to announce a nominee for the Indiana Southern District Court’s impending vacancy.
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Filling the robes: Nominations still pending for Indiana district, appellate vacancies
Of all the current Indiana judicial nominees, Magistrate Judge Joshua Kolar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana is the farthest along on his route to fill a vacancy.
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‘Passing the baton’: Pratt family features 3 generations of Black attorneys, 2 generations of judges
Lena Pratt Sanders, the Marion Circuit Court magistrate judge, has continued her family’s legal legacy of three generations of Black attorneys in Indianapolis — and has now started the family’s second generation of judges.
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Articles
Noblesville man gets 15 years in prison after convictions for child porn
U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Cody Todd Cox, 38, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Florida man found guilty in cargo theft ring that stole over $5M in goods in Indiana and nearby
Authorities say the group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts that included over $2 million in Oculus virtual reality headsets from a Meta facility, $940,000 in Microsoft products, $1 million in Bath & Body Works and much more.
Indianapolis man gets 8 years in prison after setting IndyGo bus on fire
Chief U.S. District Judge Judge James Sweeney II sentenced Demarcus McCloud, 46, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious damage to property receiving federal funds and one count of malicious damage to federal property.
Federal judge dismisses professors’ lawsuit against IU, Purdue over new intellectual diversity law
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of several Indiana professors over the state’s intellectual diversity law, claiming the case lacks jurisdiction.
U.S. District Court in Southern Indiana names Sweeney as new chief judge
The United States District Court in Southern Indiana has named James Sweeney II as the court’s new chief judge. Sweeney succeeds Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, who has served in the position since March 2021.
7 people sentenced in theft ring that stole 240 firearms from Indy shipping facility
Bruce Williams, 33, faces the lengthiest prison term of the group after U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson sentenced him to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Two Princeton residents sentenced in extensive mail theft
Stolen checks valued at more than $1.8 million were found in the pair’s apartment, authorities said.
Men involved in Arizona-Evansville counterfeit fentanyl operation get combined 16 years in prison
U.S. District Judge Richard Young sentenced Deriontai Mathis, 31, of Evansville to 11 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Indianapolis fentanyl dealer gets 16 years in federal prison
U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker sentenced Stacy Lamont Griffin, 33, of Indianapolis to his prison term, which will be followed by four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Illinois man gets 5-year sentence for fatally stabbing fellow inmate in Terre Haute prison fight
U.S. District Judge James Sweeney sentenced Otha Don Watkins III, 43, of Cairo, Illinois to five years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and possessing contraband in prison.
Indianapolis man gets 5+ years in prison for possessing machine gun devices
Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Q’Tez Laquan Ginn, 19, to 61 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after his guilty plea,
Undocumented immigrant gets 5+ years in prison for fentanyl distribution in Indiana, Kentucky
U.S. District Judge Richard Young sentenced Javier Moreno-Garibaldi, 38, of Mexico to five and a half years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to distribution of more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
Kentucky man gets 45 years in prison for sexual exploitation of Monroe County child
Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Darren Ringenberg, 30, to a 45-year prison term followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Evansville couple get lengthy prison sentences after child dies from fentanyl poisoning
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brookman sentenced Arcinial Montreal Watt, 36, and Jazmynn Alaina Brown, 27, both of Evansville, for their roles in a fentanyl dealing operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Indiana’s Southern District.
Judge issues preliminary injunction against IU ‘expressive activity’ policy
In November, the university implemented a new policy that required prior approval for daytime campus protests and banned activities occurring between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Federal courts hosting training for pro bono representation of abuse victims
The program will be offered at 1 p.m. June 24. It is part of the Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent, or POWER, Act, which focuses on promoting pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Indianapolis man sentenced to 17+ years for child sex crimes
An Indianapolis man faces 17.5 years in federal prison after being sentenced for sexual crimes against children, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Indiana’s Southern District announced Thursday.
Feds to wind down certain Indiana naturalization ceremonies, block on-site voter registration
The federal agency that confers citizenship upon thousands of new Hoosiers annually is pulling back from naturalization ceremonies held in donated venues — to the alarm of volunteers who won’t be allowed inside the “in-house” alternatives to register prospective voters.
Former Henry County Jail officer gets probation for excessive force on an inmate
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brookman sentenced Curtis Doughty, 28, of Muncie, to two years probation after Doughty pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.