MICHIGAN CITY, IN – Anthony Sanders, 35, of LaPorte, Indiana, is facing a decade and a half in federal prison after a high-speed chase ended with him ditching a loaded 9mm handgun. Sanders was sentenced Wednesday to 180 months – fifteen years – by U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, following a guilty plea to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The bust went down in February 2021, when Michigan City police spotted Sanders carrying the weapon. Rather than comply with a traffic stop, Sanders bolted, shedding the 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his attempt to escape. Officers recovered the handgun, along with two extended magazines – one packed with 28 rounds, the other with 17. The discovery wasn’t just about the gun; it was about a man with a lengthy rap sheet violating federal law.
Sanders’ criminal history is extensive, and disqualifies him from legally possessing any firearm. Court documents reveal prior convictions for robbery involving a firearm, two counts of burglary, and two separate drug dealing convictions involving cocaine. This wasn’t a first offense, and the judge clearly factored that into the severe sentence handed down.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with significant assistance from the Michigan City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the recovered evidence and Sanders’ prior record. The feds clearly weren’t messing around.
Federal officials are framing Sanders’ sentencing as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on community trust, prevention programs, targeted enforcement, and measurable results. This case, they claim, is a direct result of that strategy in action.
While the streets of LaPorte and Michigan City might be a little safer with Sanders locked up for the next fifteen years, the underlying issues driving gun violence remain. The question remains: is a lengthy prison sentence enough to truly address the problem, or just a temporary fix?
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