A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has indicted two local men on charges related to firearms and drug offenses. The indictment was returned on January 8, 2025, against Sukhjit Bains and Jonathan Ernspiker.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced the charges alongside Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Karen Wingerd from IRS Criminal Investigation's Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The indictment details that Sukhjit Bains, aged 51, faces multiple charges including trafficking firearms and distributing methamphetamine. He is also charged with illegal possession of a machine gun defined under federal law as a Glock Switch device. These offenses are alleged to have occurred on November 20th and December 12th of last year. Bains had previous felony convictions prohibiting him from firearm possession.
Jonathan Ernspiker, aged 42, is similarly charged with trafficking firearms and distributing methamphetamine among other offenses dated November 20th last year. Like Bains, he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
Both men made initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Louisville's federal district court earlier this month. While Ernspiker remains detained pending trial, Bains has a detention hearing scheduled for January 16th.
If convicted, Bains could face a minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment; Ernspiker could face between 10 years to life imprisonment. Sentences will be determined by a federal judge considering sentencing guidelines.
This case results from investigations by agencies including ATF, LMPD, DEA, and IRS-CI under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations using collaborative approaches.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter leads prosecution efforts under new provisions from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act enacted in June 2022 targeting unlawful firearm trafficking practices.
It is important to note that an indictment only constitutes allegations; defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.