South Bend Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Firearm Offense

SOUTH BEND – Louis Hampton, 22 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm as a Felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Hampton was sentenced to 27 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, South Bend Police encountered Hampton during a traffic stop. Inside the car that Hampton was driving, police found a firearm with a large capacity magazine. Hampton had previously been convicted of felony criminal recklessness and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

“The Defendant’s reckless actions and blatant disregard for the rule of law make him an ongoing threat to our neighborhoods and our residents’ safety.  The successful prosecution of this case was made possible through strong strategic partnerships amongst the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Bend Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter and AUSA Joseph Barrier. Thanks to their efforts, the gun and the violent felon who possessed it are off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney, Adam Mildred.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Bend Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Barrier and former Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.

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.