Kevin Ellis, a 41-year-old resident of Mishawaka, Indiana, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison following his guilty plea to charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco. In addition to the 72-month prison term, Ellis will serve four years of supervised release.
Court records indicate that law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Ellis and discovered a loaded firearm equipped with a large capacity magazine, along with fentanyl pills, methamphetamine pills, marijuana, and a digital scale. A subsequent search warrant executed at Ellis’s residence led to the seizure of additional fentanyl and methamphetamine pills. As a previously convicted felon with an earlier federal firearms conviction, Ellis was legally barred from possessing any firearms.
“Kevin Ellis admitted that he illegally possessed a gun,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He also admitted that he possessed, and planned to distribute, some of the most dangerous drugs available. His case shows that those exposing the citizens of this District to such dangers will suffer the consequences. I thank all the public servants involved in this case for bringing it to a just end.”
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with support from the Mishawaka Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts among federal, state, local law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence across communities nationwide. The Department of Justice launched an enhanced strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021 aimed at building trust within communities, supporting prevention-focused organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and tracking outcomes.
