Darcy Neily, a 41-year-old South Bend man with a long criminal record, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being caught with a firearm — a weapon he had no legal right to possess. Neily pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries stiff penalties when a defendant has a history like his.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. handed down the 120-month sentence, followed by two years of supervised release, in a packed courtroom in South Bend. The sentence marks the latest chapter in a pattern of violent and repeat offenses, prosecutors say, underscoring the danger Neily posed to the community.
Court documents show that in July 2018, Neily was found in possession of a firearm despite having been convicted of seven prior felony offenses. Federal law bars anyone with a felony conviction from owning or handling guns. Authorities say Neily ignored that law without hesitation.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with critical support from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit. Their joint efforts led to the recovery of the weapon and the swift building of a federal case.
Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse prosecuted the case, emphasizing Neily’s repeated disregard for the law. “When someone with seven felony convictions picks up a gun, it’s not just a crime — it’s a threat,” Gabrielse said in a statement. “Public safety demands consequences.”
Neily’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of how federal authorities track and prosecute illegal gun possession, especially among repeat offenders. With nearly a decade behind bars ahead of him, Neily’s next move won’t be on the streets — it’ll be behind bars.
Related Federal Cases
- Jason Anderson Gets 15 Years for Illegal Firearm Possession · Illinois
- Fort Wayne Man Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · Indiana
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- Jackson Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession · Mississippi
- Indiana Felons Get Decades For Illegal Gun Possession · Indiana
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