South Bend, Indiana – A South Bend man was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment and two years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
James Dean Garcia, Jr., 33, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced yesterday for his crime, which was committed in 2014.
According to court documents, on September 6, 2014, Garcia was driving an SUV near the intersection of Calvert and Prospect Streets in South Bend when he fired several rounds from his vehicle. Officers responded to the call of shots fired and were on the scene when the suspected vehicle was traveling towards them at a high rate of speed. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver, James Dean Garcia, Jr. Officers learned Garcia had a suspended license. During the process of asking Garcia to step out of the vehicle, officers saw a spent shell casing on the driver’s seat. All occupants were removed from the vehicle and a firearm was discovered in the center console of the vehicle.
Garcia admitted possessing and shooting the firearm saying that he wasn’t trying to hurt anyone but had done “something stupid.” Mr. Garcia has a lengthy criminal history which includes a prior felony conviction for a firearm offense.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms along with the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth M. Hays.
The South Bend Group Violence Intervention (SBGVI) strategy was implemented in May 2014 to decrease gun violence in the streets. The strategy included a Call-In, where attendees were asked to spread the message that shooting will not be tolerated. The Call-In included a presentation describing a vast array of social services and community organizations available for anyone needing assistance to leave a violent lifestyle.
Mr. Garcia attended the SBGVI Call-In on August 28, 2014, but still committed the crime. The community is left wondering if the SBGVI strategy was effective in preventing such crimes, and if more needs to be done to address gun violence in South Bend.
Related Federal Cases
- Toby Ray Taylor, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Indiana 2024 · Illinois
- Deyon Washington, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Indiana 2021 · Indiana
- Lorenzo Carlos Pfeifer, Felon in Possession, Indiana 2016 · Indiana
- Terryante Flournoy, Attempted Robbery Affecting Commerce and Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Indiana 2019 · Florida
- Martin Devalois, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Illinois 2023 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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