United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Indiana announced that Joseph Blair, Jr., 30 years old, of South Bend, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to armed drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Blair was sentenced to 106 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

According to documents in this case, in December 2020, law enforcement searched Blair’s home and recovered over 150 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun. A search of his car resulted in the recovery of over 200 grams of methamphetamine, two rifles, and a magazine for a high capacity rifle.

This case was investigated by the DEA with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.