Johnny A. Bangs, a 46-year-old resident of Lake Station, Indiana, has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and will serve an additional 24 months on supervised release. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund following Bangs' guilty plea to charges of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Bangs’ home in Lake Station on June 14, 2023. During the search, officers found cocaine, proceeds from drug sales, 43 rifles and shotguns, seven handguns, and ammunition. Authorities also stated that Bangs had sold cocaine on two occasions during the summer of 2023.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Porter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor announced the sentencing.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities. The Department launched a strengthened violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021 that emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations focused on violence prevention, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes.
