Adam Motheral, a 50-year-old resident of Elkhart, Indiana, has been sentenced to 228 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty. The sentencing follows Motheral's guilty plea to charges of distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay announced the sentencing.
In addition to his prison term, Motheral will serve four years of supervised release. Case documents reveal that between October 2023 and February 2024, Motheral sold four firearms and over 400 grams of high-purity methamphetamine in Elkhart. A search conducted at his residence uncovered approximately 150 grams of methamphetamine and nine additional firearms. Motheral's criminal history includes four prior felony convictions and twelve misdemeanor convictions.
The investigation was carried out by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), including its North Central Laboratory; Homeland Security Investigations; with support from local law enforcement units such as the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit, the Elkhart Police Department, the South Bend Police Department, and the LaGrange Police Department in Illinois. Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen PSN by focusing on fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.