Clifford D. Johnson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana
Lorraina M. Rakes, a 24-year-old resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison. This decision was made by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady following Rakes' guilty plea for providing firearms to a known convicted felon. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Rakes will also face three years of supervised release after serving her prison sentence. Court documents reveal that between April 9 and 26, 2024, she sold or disposed of three firearms to an individual who was legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing them due to their status as a convicted felon.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with support from the Fort Wayne Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith prosecuted the case.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among various levels of law enforcement and community partners. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence, focusing on strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.