Crime & Safety
Lake County, IN Drug Trafficker Gets 10 Years in Federal Prison
Hammond, IN – A 45 year old Gary man will spend the next decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearm offenses involving fentanyl laced heroin and crack cocaine in No
By Evan Cross · 2026-11-03T16:27:00.065Z
Hammond, IN – A 45 year old Gary man will spend the next decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearm offenses involving fentanyl laced heroin and crack cocaine in Northwest Indiana.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana, Jabari Casey, 45, of Gary, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon.
The sentence, announced Thursday, Oct. 29, also includes four years of supervised release following Casey's imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors said Casey pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of crack cocaine, along with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Court documents revealed that investigators used a confidential informant to purchase fentanyl laced heroin and crack cocaine from Casey outside a Gary business on Aug. 5 and Aug. 15, 2025.
On Aug. 20, authorities executed a search warrant at Casey's nearby residence.
Investigators recovered nearly one pound of fentanyl laced heroin, crack cocaine, packaging materials, digital scales and a Glock pistol.
U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred described the sentence as a significant step toward removing armed drug traffickers from local communities.
“Jabari Casey will spend the next ten years in federal prison for distributing deadly poison into our neighborhoods and using a firearm to protect his illegal trade,” Mildred said.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Sheriff 's Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski prosecuted the case.
Federal officials said the prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative coordinating law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to address violent crime and improve community safety.
The Justice Department originally announced the sentence Oct. 29 and updated its release Monday, Nov. 2.