South Bend Man Charged With Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution

SOUTH BEND –Ramon Lenoir III, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, has been charged with possession of over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute cases of drug dealing, especially when firearms are involved.  Curbing the distribution of illegal narcotics is a top priority of my Office.”

According to the federal Indictment, on December 6, 2018, Lenoir knowingly and intentionally possessed over 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to other people.  He also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. 

Lenoir had been previously charged in state court for this criminal conduct.  According to documents filed in that state court case, a person working with Warsaw, Indiana investigators purchased methamphetamine from Lenoir at his house in South Bend.  Investigators then obtained a search warrant.  When executing the warrant, officers found Lenoir near a toilet and believed he had attempted to flush something down the toilet.  Lenoir had just under seven grams of suspected methamphetamine on him.  Investigators found an additional 315 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the kitchen.  Investigators also found several firearms, some marijuana, and over seven thousand dollars of cash.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the St. Joseph County Drug Investigations Unit, the South Bend Police Department’s Strategic Focus Unit, and the Rochester Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly L. Schultz.

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