Ricky Hemphill, Racketeering, Indiana 2013

Ricky Hemphill, 20, and Timothy Whitfield, 21, of South Bend, Indiana, have pled guilty to the felony offense of racketeering in the case US v Shaw et al. The charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the South Bend Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Hemphill and Whitfield are scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2013. 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. Whitfield also pled guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The magistrate judge, Christopher Nuechterlein, is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty pleas. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation.

These guilty pleas mark a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against organized crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the South Bend Police Department are to be commended for their tireless efforts in investigating and bringing these cases to justice.

The case against Hemphill and Whitfield is a reminder that racketeering is a serious crime with severe consequences. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

The prosecution of these cases is a testament to the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to protecting the citizens of Indiana from organized crime.

Additional information about this case can be found at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana website.

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