Derek Cast, a 48-year-old resident of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund on July 22 to 192 months in prison after pleading guilty to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Cast received a sentence of sixteen years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to U.S. Attorney Mildred, “A drug and gun dealer will spend the next 16 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for plying his trade of mayhem and poison. On October 2, 2025, the defendant sold just under a pound of methamphetamine to law enforcement. A few weeks later, on October 28 and November 5, 2025, he sold law enforcement four semi-automatic pistols and two rifles and demonstrated how to use one of the rifles as a fully automatic firearm. He was immediately arrested and law enforcement recovered a firearm from his person,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred.
Mildred also said that Cast has multiple felony convictions including attempted battery involving law enforcement officers, carrying a handgun without a license, possession of cocaine, and dealing in cocaine—all felonies that disqualified him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), described as the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative aimed at coordinating efforts among federal prosecutors; state; local; tribal law enforcement; and other public safety partners to combat violent crime. PSN focuses on rapid federal response to violent crime offenders; strategic partnerships across agencies; accountability through prosecution or other strategies; and complements broader Homeland Security Task Force initiatives.