United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HAMMOND, Ind. - Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson of the Northern District of Indiana announced that Juan O. Barradas-De La Paz, 26, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Barradas-De La Paz was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release

According to documents in the case, in January 2021, law enforcement purchased a pound of methamphetamine from Barradas-De La Paz. He was stopped in Lafayette on the way to another deal in January when he was arrested and found to be in possession of three pounds of methamphetamine and ½ kilogram of cocaine. A subsequent search warrant at his residence resulted in the recovery of additional controlled substances and firearms, which included five kilograms of cocaine and two pounds of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Tippecanoe County Drug Taskforce, and the Lafayette Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.