Marion Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison

FORT WAYNE–Kenneth E. Smith, 46 years old, of Marion, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Smith was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, on March 12, 2020, Smith possessed crack cocaine intended for distribution.  On this same date, Smith was carrying a firearm as a means of protecting his drug trafficking activity.  Smith’s possession of the firearm was also prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony offense. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Indiana State Police, and the Grant County Joint Effort Against Narcotics (JEAN), which is a task force composed of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Marion Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.