SOUTH BEND, IN – A 39-year-old man from South Bend has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison after admitting to distributing fentanyl and other drugs, prosecutors announced.
Kevin Pope Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Damon R. Leichty to 66 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court filings, Pope sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a buyer in South Bend on five occasions in October and November 2024. In December 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at his home and discovered more than 30 grams of fentanyl, about one kilogram of methamphetamine pills, 90 grams of cocaine, a loaded handgun, and over $22,000 in cash.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse prosecuted the case.
Key Points
- Kevin Pope Jr., 39, sentenced to 66 months in prison for fentanyl distribution.
- Search of his home uncovered fentanyl, methamphetamine pills, cocaine, cash, and a loaded firearm.
- Case investigated by ATF with help from South Bend Police.
Federal prosecutors said the sentence reflects the seriousness of fentanyl trafficking in northern Indiana.