SOUTH BEND, IN – Charlie Easton, 29, led South Bend police on a frantic chase in April 2023 before ditching a fully automatic weapon and fleeing on foot, ultimately earning himself a 70-month federal prison sentence. U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty handed down the sentence Friday, following Easton’s guilty plea to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident began with reports of gunfire, quickly escalating into a high-speed pursuit as Easton attempted to evade officers. The chase ended at a dead end, prompting Easton to abandon his vehicle and run. Recovered at the scene was a firearm equipped with an extended magazine and, critically, an auto sear – a device that illegally converted the weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. The ATF later confirmed the weapon’s dangerous modification.
Easton’s criminal history bars him from legally possessing any firearms. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from owning weapons, a restriction Easton blatantly disregarded. The ATF, working alongside the South Bend Police Department, built the case, meticulously documenting the pursuit, the recovery of the weapon, and Easton’s prior conviction.
“This isn’t just about a gun; it’s about a dangerous escalation,” stated a source close to the investigation who wished to remain anonymous. “Converting a firearm into a machinegun isn’t a mistake; it’s a deliberate act with potentially devastating consequences. Easton put lives at risk, and the courts have responded accordingly.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle prosecuted the case, securing the 70-month sentence followed by two years of supervised release. The prosecution emphasized the severity of the crime and the need to deter others from similar actions. The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence.
The Department of Justice launched a renewed focus on PSN in 2021, emphasizing community trust, support for violence prevention organizations, and strategic enforcement. While the program touts a holistic approach, the Easton case highlights the crucial role of aggressive investigation and prosecution in keeping illegal weapons off the streets of South Bend and beyond. The Chicago Field Division of the ATF oversaw the investigation.
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