As unusual and independent as the Upper Peninsula where he ruled with an iron fist for 3 decades – Today and Tomorrow are Officially The Final Days for His Honor – The Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell
Plus we hope to hear today about the future of Eastern District of Michigan Federal Prosecutor Barbara McQuade
A new top federal prosecutor took the helm last week in the U.P. area and western half of the Lower Peninsula – The new top cop for the U.P. is Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge, who took over last week after the resignation/step-down of U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. (all just an expected big federal shakeup with a new president from different party)
“The diversion of firearms for unlawful purposes or to those who cannot legally possess them endangers each and every member of our society,” said Federal Judge Robert Holmes Bell at his final sentencing on Thursday
The honorable 72-year-old U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell held his final sentencings last week.
This Judge’s judge naturally Command’s Respect (Reminds This Reporter of the Non-Nonsense, Order-In-The-Court, Hang ‘Em High, The Triple A Himself – The Late Great Federal – U.S. District Court Judge Anthony A. Alaimo in Georgia).
Like all federal judges in Michigan, Judge Bell’s impact was profound on every northern Michigan Indian Nation – whether it was tribal domestic violence, or the Founder of American Tribal Gambling Fred Dakota, or the many civil cases.
For Whom the Bell Tolls – To Prison
Dealing With An Armed Crack Dealer:
Dealt 12 years in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell in one of his final sentencings last week
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433
Federal Judge Robert Holmes Bell sent many heavily armed and murderous drug dealers, gangs, gun-runners and just plain bad people to prison – from the Upper Peninsula and down to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor.
In the federal system there is no parole, so when he sentences someone 20 or 30 years – that is what they serve.
Hey – Judge Bell even has a judge-looking appearance and official kind of name – just saying.
He was named (middle) after one of America’s most famous jurists.
There was even a brief filed last week with re-assignment of Judge Bell’s many criminal and civiol cases due to “Inactive senior status effective (tomorrow, Tuesday) January 31, 2017“– in legal jargon – but it means retirement:
“Judge Bell is scheduled to take inactive senior status effective January 31, 2017, and will be unavailable to conclude proceedings in these matter”
Judge Bell’s Second to Last Sentencing, followed by his final (scroll down to sees lots you do not expect):
Dealing With An Armed Crack Dealer:
Dealt 12 years in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell in one of his final sentencings last week
By Greg Peterson
(Grand Rapids, MI) – Armed crack kingpin Calvin Veernell Dennis was sentenced to nearly 12 years (140 months) in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell on Tues., Jan. 24, 2016 – the latest in numerous Michigan drug traffickers getting stiff prison terms
The decade plus in prison will be followed by three years supervised release
Calvin Veernell Dennis admitted being a highly armed cocaine trafficker and convicted felon in Kent County, MI.
Dennis pleaded guilty to felon in possession of firearms and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Colt Agent .38 revolver (Serial No. M53914) and 21 rounds of Winchester .38 spl. caliber ammunition
M-11, 9mm Cobroyo semiautomatic pistol and 60 rounds of 9mm ammunition
Smith and Wesson, model SW40VE, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol (Serial No. RAY4273) and 20 rounds of Winchester .40 caliber ammunition
Tanfoglio, model TZ75, 9mm semiautomatic pistol (Serial No. H00704) and 16 rounds of Winchester Luger and Hornady 9mm ammunition
Rock River Arms, LAR 15, 5.56 caliber rifle (Serial No. CM179750) and 50 rounds of Remington .223 caliber ammunition
660 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition.
Case Summary
1:16-cr-00098-RHB All Defendants USA v. Dennis
Date filed: 05/25/2016
Date terminated: 01/24/2017
Calvin Veernell Dennis
Filed: 05/25/2016
Kent County, MI
Count: 1 citation: 18:922g.f offense level: 4 18:922(g)(1), 18:921(a), 18:924(a)(2)
Unlawful transport of firearms, etc.; felon in possession of firearms
Count: 2 citation: 18:922g.f offense level: 4 18:922(g)(1), 18:921(a), 18:924(a)(2)
Unlawful transport of firearms, etc.; felon in possession of ammunition
Count: 3 citation: 21:841a=nd.f offense level: 4 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(c)
Narcotics – sell, distribute, or dispense; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
Count: 4 citation: 18:924c.f offense level: 4 18:924(c)(1)(a)(i), 21:841(a)(1)
Violent crime/drugs/machine gun; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Defendant in Custody
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Berens
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: sally.berens@usdoj.gov
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel S. Fauson
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: joel.fauson@usdoj.gov
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Murnahan
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: jennifer.murnahan@usdoj.gov
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: alexis.sanford@usdoj.gov
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Judge Bell’s Final Sentencing:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 26, 2017
Grand Rapids Man To Spend Five Years In Prison For Trafficking Firearms
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Donte Timothy Bacon, 31, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment, Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today.
In August, Bacon pled guilty to selling a firearm to a prohibited person and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Charles Lee Samuels, 28, earlier was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his lesser role in the crimes.
On five different occasions in August and September 2014, Bacon sold a firearm to a person who was not permitted to possess it under federal law. One of the firearms was sold with a high-capacity magazine. Two of those firearms had been purchased by Bacon and Samuels and were sold after Bacon removed the serial numbers. During the final transaction, Bacon and Samuels used a hand-grinder to remove the serial number at the time of sale.
In his final sentencing before retiring from the bench, U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell observed the seriousness of trafficking firearms. Judge Bell ordered Bacon to serve three years of supervised release following his term of custody and expressed his hope that Bacon will return as a productive member to his community.
“The diversion of firearms for unlawful purposes or to those who cannot legally possess them endangers each and every member of our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Birge. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute those who willfully circumvent federal firearms laws designed to protect the public.”
“Selling firearms to prohibited individuals contributes to the cycle of gun violence plaguing our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “ATF will continue to use all available resources to put a stop to illegal gun sales. Let this conviction stand as a warning to others willing to put profit before public safety.”
The ATF conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Grand Rapids Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin M. Presant and Alexis M. Sanford prosecuted the case.
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Other federal court cases this past week you did not hear about:
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Five years in prison for coke/heroin dealer
Drug dealer Jamian Charles Pearce sentenced on Jan. 23, 2017 to five years (60 months) in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney for distributing heroin and cocaine in Kent County, MI in Feb. 2016.
After five years in prison, he will be on three years of supervised release.
On March 16, 2015, Muskegon County Law Enforcement arrested 32-year-old Jamian Charles Pearce for obstructing justice/probation violation in Muskegon, MI
Case Summary:
1:16-cr-00036-PLM-4 USA v. Hairston et al
Date filed: 02/25/2016
Date of last filing: 01/24/2017
Jamian Charles Pearce
Filed: 02/25/2016
Kent County, MI
Count: 1
Citation: 21:846=NP.F Offense Level: 4 21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(a)(i) and (ii), 21:841(b)(1)(c)
Conspiracy to possess narcotics; conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and heroin
Count: 3
citation: 21:846=np.f offense level: 4 21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(c), 18:2
Conspiracy to possess narcotics; attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine
Count: 1s
citation: 21:846=nd.f offense level: 4 21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(a)(i) and (ii), 21:841(b)(1)(c)
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin
Count: 3s
citation: 21:846=nd.f offense level: 4 21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(c), 18:2
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics; attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine
Count: 1ss
citation: 21:846=nd.f offense level: 4 21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(b)(ii)
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine
Defendant in custody
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Courtade
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: mark.courtade@usdoj.gov
Three years in prison for identity theft
By Greg Peterson
(Grand Rapids, MI) – Pedro Enrique Sanchez Pupo was sentenced to 37 months in prison on Jan.25, 2017 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Jonker for aggravated identity theft crimes committed in 2015 in Kent County, MI:
In plea agreement, Pupo pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her will serve his time – three years and a month- in a federal prison in Florida near his family.
Date of last filing: 01/28/2017
Pedro Enrique Sanchez Pupo
Filed: 12/01/2015
Kent County
Count: 1 Citation: 18:1349.F Offense Level: 4
18:1349, 18:1343
Attempt and conspiracy to commit fraud; conspiracy
Count: 2 citation: 18:1029a.f offense level: 4
18:1029(a)(3), 18:1029(c)(1)(a)(i), 18:2
Produces/traffics in counterfeit device; access device fraud
Count: 3 citation: 18:1028a.f offense level: 4
18:1028a(a)(1), 18:1028a(c)(4), (5), 18:1028a(b), 18:2
Fraud with identification documents; aggravated identity theft
Defendant in Custody
Federal Prosecutor:
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen W. Frank
Phone: (616) 456-2404
Email: hagen.frank@usdoj.gov
Ten years – 121 months in prison for distributing coke and heroin
By Greg Peterson
(Grand Rapids, MI) – One of the defendants in major heroin ring was sentenced to just over ten years in federal prison on Jan. 24, 2017 by U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney for distributing heroin and cocaine during Jan. 2016 in Kent County, MI.
Mario Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess narcotics; conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and heroin.
No parole in federal prison, and will be under three years supervised release when let out in a decade.
Case Summary
1:16-cr-00036-PLM-3 USA v. Hairston et al
Date filed: 02/25/2016
Date of last filing: 01/24/2017
Mario Cruz
Filed: 02/25/2016
Kent County
Other Court Case: 1:16-cr-169 Related Case
Count: 1 citation: 21:846=np.f offense level: 4
21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(a)(i) and (ii), 21:841(b)(1)(c)
Conspiracy to possess narcotics; conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and heroin
Count: 2 citation: 21:846=nd.f offense level: 4
21:846, 21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(a)(i) and (ii), 21:841(b)(1)(c)
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin
Defendant in custody
Federal prosecutor:
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Courtade
Email: mark.courtade at usdoj.gov
Read about the fancinating reign of a tough federal judge – who was feared by all the big time evil doers in the Upper Peninsula:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2017_0126_Bacon
https://www.apnews.com/cb2f330cae944accaeac06e0be6b56c2
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/10/federal_judge_robert_holmes_be.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/11/towering_figure_robert_holmes.html
http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/02/profile_us_district_court_judg.html
http://www.miwd.uscourts.gov/judges-info/judge-robert-h-bell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Holmes_Bell
The mother was also told that the inmate was checked on employees of the short-staffed prison numerous times in the minutes before the death.
Daniels received a Ghost Letter from her son just days after her death. Daniels had good and bad days – and spending much time crying, Thanksgiving was especially difficult, and she is puzzled why the state police would cover up for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
We have left a message for the Kinross Warden – but he has not returned our calls.
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 