South Bend Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offense “A drug dealer meant to profit from unleashing nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine into our community, but a drug canine ruined his plans.   On September 15, 2025, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on a truck Keith Jennings was driving. During the stop, a drug K9 alerted on the vehicle. Officers searched the truck and found approximately 2,128.5 grams of methamphetamine in the backseat area.  Thanks to the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration @DEACHICAGODiv, including the DEA Merrillville District Office, DEA Chicago Special Response Team, DEA Detroit Special Response Team, DEA St. Louis Special Response Team, and DEA North Central Laboratory; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives @ATF_Chicago; the Federal Bureau of Investigation @FBIIndianapolis; the United States Postal Inspection Service @USPIS_CHI; the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice; the South Bend Police Department @southbendpolice; St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office @LSjcpd; Mishawaka Police Department; the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office @SJC_Prosecutor led by Ken Cotter; and Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Joel Gabrielse, the Defendant has been sent to prison for fifteen years, the drugs have been intercepted, and our state and nation is safer,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. 🔗:

Marion Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison For Attempting to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine “A drug dealer intended to profit from distributing nearly 3 pounds of almost 100% pure methamphetamine and earned 11 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release instead.  The Defendant was to receive a shipment of methamphetamine in the mail from Fresno, California when it was intercepted by the United States Postal Service. Inside the package were three plastic bags containing almost 100% pure methamphetamine with a pure substance weight of 1,317.83 grams. The Defendant admitted to investigators that the methamphetamine was destined for him, and that he planned to unleash that poison on our communities.  He was no rookie, having prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and invasion of privacy.  Thanks to the partnership of the United States Postal Inspection Service @USPIS_CHI, the Drug Enforcement Administration @DEACHICAGODiv, the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice and Assistant United States Attorneys Teresa L. Ashcraft and Justin C. Sheridan, the Defendant is behind bars, the drugs have been removed from our community, and the nation is safer,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. 🔗:

South Bend Man Sentenced to 228 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance and Firearm Offenses “An armed drug dealer possessed nearly a pound and a half of pure methamphetamine intending to profit from unleashing that poison in our community.  He will spend the next nineteen years in prison and will be supervised for five years once he is released.  He is no stranger to the system as he has convictions for perjury and a prior federal felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, which prohibited him from lawfully possessing firearms.  On November 6, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants on Smallwood’s home and a vehicle on the property. Officers found approximately 669 grams of pure methamphetamine and a loaded Ruger firearm.  Thanks to the combined efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration @DEACHICAGODiv, including the DEA Merrillville District Office, DEA Chicago Special Response Team, DEA Detroit Special Response Team, DEA St. Louis Special Response Team, and DEA North Central Laboratory; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives @ATF_Chicago; the Federal Bureau of Investigation @FBIIndianapolis; the United States Postal Inspection Service @USPIS_CHI; the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice; the South Bend Police Department @southbendpolice; the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office; the Mishawaka Police Department; and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office @SJC_Prosecutor led by Ken Cotter, the case was brought and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.  Our community and nation are safer because of their partnership as part of the Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. 🔗: