A Westville man with a violent criminal past is headed to federal prison after being caught with a loaded firearm. Vincent Jones, 46, was sentenced to 97 months in federal custody after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana announced.
Jones, a convicted felon, was taken into custody following a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department, and the Westville Police Department. Authorities say the firearm was recovered during a targeted probe into illegal weapons trafficking in northern Indiana.
The conviction stems from evidence gathered in late 2022 and early 2023, which linked Jones to the possession of a loaded handgun despite his prior felony convictions. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony records from possessing firearms under any circumstances.
Sentencing was handed down by South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, who ordered Jones to serve 97 months behind bars followed by one year of supervised release. No early release options were granted.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank E. Schaffer, Luke N. Reilander, and Molly E. Donnelly, who emphasized the federal crackdown on repeat offenders armed with deadly weapons. “We’re not allowing convicted felons to rearm themselves and threaten public safety,” said U.S. Attorney David Capp.
Authorities say the collaboration between federal and local law enforcement continues to target illegal gun circulation in high-crime areas across the region. Jones remains in custody pending transfer to a federal prison facility.
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