Elkhart Cocaine Distributors Sentenced For Firearms and Controlled Substance Offenses

SOUTH BEND – Two men have been sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to various cocaine drug and gun related charges, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Derrick Glass, 40 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Glass was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Shawn Pettis, 35 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Pettis was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

“Two armed Defendants teamed up and conspired to peddle cocaine and did so while armed with a firearm.  They will spend nearly 13 years in prison because they ran into a much better team of the ATF, the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enhancement Unit, and Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle, with the support of Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker and her office.  Our communities and nation are safer because of their efforts,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

“ATF and our partners are out on the streets of Northern Indiana everyday investigating violent crimes including armed drug trafficking. The sentence imposed today reflects the serious consequences for those who use firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. ATF and our partners remain united in investigating and disrupting this violent criminal activity and working with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute this conduct,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.

According to documents in the case, in February and March of 2025, Glass distributed firearms, ketamine, and cocaine to another person. During that time, Pettis assisted Glass with the distribution and stored cocaine and firearms at his home. Police found additional cocaine and firearms when they executed a search warrant at Pettis's home in March of 2025.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence & Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.