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.