South Bend Woman Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison

SOUTH BEND – Frances Bianco, 43 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty on her plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Bianco was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. 

According to documents in this case, law enforcement performed a traffic stop involving Bianco that led to the seizure of over 50 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Her criminal history revealed she has three prior felony convictions and was on bond at the time the stop occurred.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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