Latest news with #HobartPolice
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Man from Moldova accused in credit card fraud scheme
A man wanted in his home country of Moldova was found to be in unlawful possession of 131 credit cards that didn't match his identity following a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road in Porter County this past weekend. Anatolie Cataraga, 41, who lives in Philadelphia, is charged with two Level 5 felonies of fraud on a financial institution and identity deception, because he is accused of having a passport under a false name. He also faces three Level 6 felony fraud charges and a single Level 6 felony count of unlawful possession of a card skimming device. It all began just after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon when a Hobart Police officer, working on assignment for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), observed an eastbound car with a dark window tint following dangerously close to a semi-truck by the 36-mile marker on I-90. The Hobart police officer pulled the vehicle over at the 40-mile marker. The Russian-speaking driver identified himself as Constantin Catana with a Moldova government card. He didn't speak English well, so the officer used a translator device and asked permission to search the vehicle, which was granted. During the search of the vehicle, the officer observed unusual wear and tear near the center air vent on the dash. The officer removed the vent and found a black satchel, according to the probable cause statement filed in Porter County Superior Court. Within that satchel, there were 120 poor quality credit cards and a wallet that contained three passports — two from Moldova and one from the neighboring Romania in Eastern Europe. The two passports had different names: one for Cataraga — established as his true identity — and the other for Constantin Catana. All three passports had the same picture, according to the court record. Cataraga and the vehicle were brought to the Hobart Police station, where they were met later that afternoon by Special Agent Zachary Ashbrook of the U.S. Secret Service. At the Hobart Police station, it was learned that INTERPOL had an active warrant for Cataraga out of Moldova. Ashbrook observed that there were 131 access device cards with different identities than Cataraga. Using an electronic swipe card reader, Ashbrook scanned 130 of the access device cards and found none of them contained information matching that which was on the card. However, each card was associated with institutions insured by the FDIC. Additionally, four-digit codes were found written on the back of the device cards that were consistent with the pins for the number of each card. Ashbrook stated that the devices discovered in Cataraga's vehicle were consistent with card skimming devices that are placed on or over card swipes in order to obtain a person's identifying information and card information. The cards in Cataraga's possession were re-coded cards commonly used in identity theft and fraud cases, the court record says.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Court briefs: Fatal drug robbery sentencing, sex crimes involving minors, shooting charges dropped
A Gary man faces up to 20 years after admitting he set up the robbery that led to a drug dealer's death. Davion Dean, 28, pleaded guilty March 29 to attempted robbery resulting in bodily injury and dealing in a narcotic drug. Gary Police arrived at 1:40 p.m. March 30, 2023, to the 4400 block of Delaware Street, where a young man lay on the front steps of a small apartment building. The victim was identified as Jordan Miller, 24, of East Chicago. Dean pitched the robbery to Brandon McFadden, who is charged with shooting Miller six times, court records state. Dean's sentencing hearing is May 29 before Judge Natalie Bokota, who would have to accept the plea deal. McFadden's trial is scheduled for November. A Schererville man was sentenced to 25 years in prison April 2 for molesting a preteen girl. Kerin Banegas-Ramos, 40, pleaded guilty in February to Level 1 felony child molesting. According to court documents, Banegas-Ramos admitted he sexually assaulted the child from January to October 2023. A 21-year-old Lake Station man faces charges that he had sex with a girl, 15. Rickey Bailey, 21, is charged with four felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one misdemeanor. He is in custody, held on a $5,000 cash bond. His next hearing is Tuesday. The teen's mother told Hobart Police the girl ran away March 23. She posted on social media that she planned to leave Indiana after her Dairy Queen shift. The girl and Bailey were found together the next day. Investigators subpoenaed Facebook messages where she said she was ready to be a mom, and called Bailey her 'baby daddy.' They planned to go to Missouri. The girl told him she was 17. Bailey denied having sex with her, then admitted he did after learning her real age. Prosecutors dismissed charges against a Hammond woman on March 20 in connection with a shooting over Xanax pills at a gas station, saying that they couldn't prove it. Nora Vera, 53, was charged in 2023 with Level 3 felony aggravated battery and Level 5 felony battery by means of a deadly weapon, according to Lake Superior Court records. Hammond Police were called at 8:49 p.m. July 26, 2023, to a Speedway Gas Station, 6845 Calumet Ave., for a reported shooting. There, they saw a male victim shot and lying on the ground in the south parking lot. Witnesses said he had been pushed out of a dark colored pickup before it took off. Nearby security video appeared to show the shooting. The victim initially lied to police, saying he was buying marijuana from an 'older couple.' He got in their truck and they got angry when he asked to use Apple Pay. The son, Ladislao Vera Jr., connected him for the sale. Ladislao Vera Sr. shot the victim, who said he had a gun, too, but couldn't use it in time, court records state. Days later, in a second police interview, the victim admitted he was buying 250 Xanax pills. He was scared to be charged, documents state. He met the couple once before. At the hospital, staff told him he was shot four times. Hammond Police executed a search warrant Aug. 10, 2023, at the Veras' house. There, they confiscated a gun case, extended gun magazine, and iPhone. They also found 'numerous' pill bottles of 'many types' in various bedrooms. The case against Vera Sr. is still pending. Charges against her son, Vera Jr., were dismissed in October. A Gary man got nine years on March 21 for dealing fentanyl to an undercover informant. Arthur Boyd, 57, pleaded guilty in February to dealing in a narcotic drug. Court records state the drug deal happened on May 5, 2023, on the 2000 block of Ohio Street in Gary. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed several other drug possession and dealing charges. Post-Tribune archives contributed. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
07-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Court briefs: Fatal drug robbery sentencing, sex crimes involving minors, shooting charges dropped
Gary man faces up to 20 years for setting up fatal drug robbery A Gary man faces up to 20 years after admitting he set up the robbery that led to a drug dealer's death. Davion Dean, 28, pleaded guilty March 29 to attempted robbery resulting in bodily injury and dealing in a narcotic drug. Gary Police arrived at 1:40 p.m. March 30, 2023, to the 4400 block of Delaware Street, where a young man lay on the front steps of a small apartment building. The victim was identified as Jordan Miller, 24, of East Chicago. Dean pitched the robbery to Brandon McFadden, who is charged with shooting Miller six times, court records state. Dean's sentencing hearing is May 29 before Judge Natalie Bokota, who would have to accept the plea deal. McFadden's trial is scheduled for November. Schererville man gets 25 years for molesting preteen girl A Schererville man was sentenced to 25 years in prison April 2 for molesting a preteen girl. Kerin Banegas-Ramos, 40, pleaded guilty in February to Level 1 felony child molesting. According to court documents, Banegas-Ramos admitted he sexually assaulted the child from January to October 2023. Lake Station man, 21, charged after having sex with 15-year-old girl A 21-year-old Lake Station man faces charges that he had sex with a girl, 15. Rickey Bailey, 21, is charged with four felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one misdemeanor. He is in custody, held on a $5,000 cash bond. His next hearing is Tuesday. The teen's mother told Hobart Police the girl ran away March 23. She posted on social media that she planned to leave Indiana after her Dairy Queen shift. The girl and Bailey were found together the next day. Investigators subpoenaed Facebook messages where she said she was ready to be a mom, and called Bailey her 'baby daddy.' They planned to go to Missouri. The girl told him she was 17. Bailey denied having sex with her, then admitted he did after learning her real age. Charges against woman in drug shooting dismissed Prosecutors dismissed charges against a Hammond woman on March 20 in connection with a shooting over Xanax pills at a gas station, saying that they couldn't prove it. Nora Vera, 53, was charged in 2023 with Level 3 felony aggravated battery and Level 5 felony battery by means of a deadly weapon, according to Lake Superior Court records. Hammond Police were called at 8:49 p.m. July 26, 2023, to a Speedway Gas Station, 6845 Calumet Ave., for a reported shooting. There, they saw a male victim shot and lying on the ground in the south parking lot. Witnesses said he had been pushed out of a dark colored pickup before it took off. Nearby security video appeared to show the shooting. The victim initially lied to police, saying he was buying marijuana from an 'older couple.' He got in their truck and they got angry when he asked to use Apple Pay. The son, Ladislao Vera Jr., connected him for the sale. Ladislao Vera Sr. shot the victim, who said he had a gun, too, but couldn't use it in time, court records state. Days later, in a second police interview, the victim admitted he was buying 250 Xanax pills. He was scared to be charged, documents state. He met the couple once before. At the hospital, staff told him he was shot four times. Hammond Police executed a search warrant Aug. 10, 2023, at the Veras' house. There, they confiscated a gun case, extended gun magazine, and iPhone. They also found 'numerous' pill bottles of 'many types' in various bedrooms. The case against Vera Sr. is still pending. Charges against her son, Vera Jr., were dismissed in October. Gary man gets 9 years for dealing fentanyl A Gary man got nine years on March 21 for dealing fentanyl to an undercover informant. Arthur Boyd, 57, pleaded guilty in February to dealing in a narcotic drug. Court records state the drug deal happened on May 5, 2023, on the 2000 block of Ohio Street in Gary. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed several other drug possession and dealing charges.
