Michigan Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance Offense

SOUTH BEND – Robert Newton, 34 years old, of Niles, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Newton was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, Newton was driving in Michigan City, Indiana, when police pulled him over for a traffic infraction and discovered three baggies containing a total of about 59.5 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the back hatch of Newton’s rental car.

“Robert Newton poisoned our communities with deadly drugs, and he will be confined ten years for it. For years, methamphetamine has torn apart Indiana families, fueled violent crime, and devastated our streets. The defendant chose to profit from that misery, operating with a blatant disregard for the law until police intercepted his vehicle and uncovered nearly 60 grams of pure methamphetamine.  His sentence is not only entirely appropriate given the scale of his crimes, but it also serves as a critical deterrent to anyone else thinking of trafficking poison into our neighborhoods.  This successful prosecution was made possible by the seamless coordination and strong partnerships of our local, state, and federal law enforcement teams. Thanks to the tireless work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA North Central Laboratory, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department, there is one less major dealer on our streets today, and our community is safer for it," said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA North Central Laboratory, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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