United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FORT WAYNE, Ind. –Alfred Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana announced Xavier M. Scott, 57 years old, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Scott was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 8 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, on August 3, 2021, Scott was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 469. Scott, a drug courier who transported and delivered controlled substances across the United States, was found in possession of cocaine and cocaine base along with 12.4 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine, an amount consistent with distribution, along with multiple cell phones, zip lock baggies and a digital scale.  Scott was also in possession of a loaded firearm used for protection in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Indiana State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.