United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson of the Northern District of Indiana announced that Stephen Jacob Lee Johnson, 49, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Johnson was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.

According to documents in this case, on Oct. 5, 2019, officers in LaGrange, Indiana, attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle driven by Johnson. However, Johnson led the officers on a high-speed chase at speeds over 100 miles per hour before crashing his motorcycle over an embankment. In a search incident to arrest, officers found a one-pound package of methamphetamine in Johnson’s coat pocket. At the time of this incident, Johnson had a prior conviction for robbery, a serious violent felony.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the LaGrange Police Department and the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Nokes and Stacey Speith.