Kendrick D. Bates, a 40-year-old resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing was carried out by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after Bates was found guilty on multiple charges, including distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
The case documents revealed that Bates engaged in methamphetamine distribution in late 2021 and operated a drug distribution house from September 2021 until March 2022. During a search of his residence in March 2022, several firearms were discovered. Due to his previous felony conviction for dealing in cocaine or methamphetamine, Bates was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced the sentencing outcome. The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the Fort Wayne Police Department with assistance from various other agencies including the Indiana State Police and the Allen County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Teresa L Ashcraft prosecuted the case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which seeks to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering community trust and supporting preventive measures against violence.