TERRE HAUTE —
A federal grand jury has indicted a Sullivan County man with illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon and he could face 15 years to life in prison under a federal “armed career criminal” enhancement, U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett said Friday.
The indictment alleges that Mark Dudley, 50, on Nov. 16, 2012 was found to be in possession of a Jimenez 9-mm handgun and a Glock .40-caliber pistol. His extensive criminal history includes 13 prior felony convictions, Hogsett said, including convictions for theft, illegal possession of a gun, forgery, and burglary in Sullivan County and Vigo County.
“Mr. Dudley is alleged to have been committing a series of burglaries throughout Sullivan County. He was ultimately apprehended … by two individuals whose home Mr. Dudley had just burglarized,” Hogsett said during a news conference in the Federal Courthouse of the Southern District of Indiana in Terre Haute.
“Obviously the burglaries that [Dudley] is alleged to have committed can be pursued locally by the Sullivan County prosecutor. The federal grand jury, in Terre Haute, returned an indictment this week.
“Having acquired 13 felony convictions, Mr. Dudley is eligible, under federal law, for what is known as the armed career criminal enhancement,” Hogsett said. “If he is designated, as a result of the judication of this case, as an armed career criminal, that enhancement carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment.
“The plain fact is that Mr. Dudley is facing the possibility of a future that includes spending the rest of his life in a federal prison,” Hogsett said.
The indictment is part of the Violent Crime Initiative, Hogsett said. Started in March 2011, the initiative is a district-wide strategy to work with law enforcement and county prosecutors to combat drug traffickers and criminals who use and carry firearms in illegal activities.
“Sullivan County … doesn’t need to be spending its resources chronically chasing people like Mr. Dudley who use the local jails as a revolving door,” Hogsett said. “Frankly, that is what our Violent Crime Initiative is designed to address, taking off the streets of Terre Haute and off the streets of Sullivan … and other communities in the Wabash Valley the so-called [worst of the worst].”
Dudley was held at gunpoint by Scott Higgins, who had a legal gun permit, and Amy Bell, according to the federal affidavit in the case. Bell told state police she had arrived at her Sullivan County home and saw a black Chevrolet truck in her driveway that she did not recognize. Believing something was wrong, she got her farm hand, Higgins.
As they returned, the truck was pulling out of the driveway. The two followed the truck and called 911. When the truck pulled over on Indiana 63, Higgins held Dudley at gunpoint until police arrived, according to the federal affidavit.
Police discovered jewelry that had been taken from Bell’s home. Four rings in Dudley’s possession and the Glock pistol, found in a tool box in Dudley’s pickup truck, were discovered to be from a second Sullivan County home burglary.
Evidence from a third home robbery was also discovered. A Sullivan County homeowner reported a tan porcelain pig containing about $200 and a “Mickey” ring were stolen. Police found shards of tan porcelain and a Mickey ring in Dudley’s truck.
In a search of Dudley’s residence in the 300 block of South Ferris Street in Sullivan and of a camper on the property, police found an unlocked safe with a loaded Jimenez 9-mm pistol and a loaded ammunition magazine. The safe also had a box of 42 rounds of 9-mm ammunition.
The Violent Crime Initiative has produced an increase in the number of gun-related charges brought federally. Since the program started in March 2011, more than 200 defendants have been charged with federal gum crimes by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hogsett said.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com
News
U.S. attorney touts success of ‘armed career criminal’ enhancement
- News
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
- More News Headlines
-
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
