Middlebury Man Convicted

SOUTH BEND –Michael S. Barber, age 22, of Middlebury, Indiana was convicted, on all counts, after a 3-day jury trial before District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

The jury convicted Barber on one count of unlawfully taking one or more firearms from a “FFL” (Federal Firearms Licensee), one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of stolen firearms. 

According to records in the case, in February 2017, Barber and an accomplice broke into Dutchman Hunting Supplies in LaGrange County, Indiana and stole several firearms from the business.  Dutchman Hunting Supplies was a licensed firearms dealer (FFL).  Barber had a prior felony conviction so he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Barber’s accomplice, Anthony S. Chipps, on December 4, 2017, pled guilty to theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer; Chipps has not yet been sentenced.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Mishawaka Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.

###