Varnell Dixon, 24, of Gary, Indiana, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime after a violent high-speed flight from Indiana State Police on Interstate 80/94. The December 28, 2019 incident ended in a rollover crash that ejected Dixon from a rented vehicle packed with evidence.
According to court documents, Dixon was speeding eastbound when troopers initiated pursuit. Inside the car: a fully loaded Glock nine millimeter handgun, four bags of marijuana — some intended for distribution — and $323.00 in small denominations. The cash and narcotics, combined with the concealed firearm, formed the backbone of a federal drug trafficking case.
Dixon lost control of the vehicle while attempting to flee, veering onto the Cline Avenue ramp before the car overturned multiple times. He was thrown from the wreckage and arrested at the scene. No other vehicles were involved, but the reckless escape put dozens of commuters at risk during peak traffic.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Dixon admits to using the firearm in connection with a drug crime. Both prosecution and defense agreed to recommend the statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, without parole.
“There have been several high-speed pursuits in the recent months that have garnered media attention in Northwest Indiana,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch. “Some of these chases have occurred solely within Indiana and some have crossed state lines. This type of criminal activity – fleeing police and putting many lives at risk while doing so – is entirely intolerable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team and the Indiana State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Cooley is prosecuting. U.S. Attorney Kirsch reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on armed, high-risk evasions, pledging federal charges wherever possible to deter repeat offenses across Northern Indiana jurisdictions.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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