GARY, IN – Khalil Swader, 26, is headed back to prison after a brazen attempt to ditch a loaded handgun during a traffic stop in Gary, Indiana. Swader was sentenced to 37 months behind bars by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, following a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The incident, occurring on July 11, 2022, underscores a pattern of disregard for the law by the repeat offender.
According to court documents, Gary Police attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by Swader for speeding. Instead of complying, Swader tossed a loaded semi-automatic pistol, complete with an extended magazine, out the window. This wasn’t his first rodeo. Swader already had a 2020 federal felony conviction for the same offense – possessing a firearm as a felon. Adding insult to injury, he was actively on supervised release for that prior conviction when he committed this latest crime.
The case was built by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) through the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, with crucial assistance from the Gary Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth prosecuted the case, securing the 37-month sentence and a subsequent year of supervised release. Sources within the ATF tell Grimy Times that Swader’s behavior demonstrates a clear escalation of criminal activity.
U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson touted the sentencing as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal program aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence. While officials celebrate PSN’s broad goals, critics point to the revolving door of the criminal justice system as a primary driver of continued violence. Swader’s history suggests a need for more than just incarceration; it begs the question of what rehabilitative efforts, if any, were attempted after his first conviction.
The details of the July 11th incident paint a picture of a suspect actively trying to conceal evidence. The fact that Swader was already under supervision at the time raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the current system. Did the supervision include regular checks for firearms? What resources were dedicated to monitoring his behavior? These are questions the Grimy Times will continue to pursue.
Swader’s case highlights the ongoing struggle to keep illegal firearms off the streets and out of the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them. While 37 months is a significant sentence, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to deter Swader from re-offending upon his release. Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as they become available.
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- Michael Andrew Ford, Felon Firearm Possession, IL, 2016 · Illinois
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- Vincent Jones, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, IN 2024 · Indiana
- Timothy J. Felty, Felon in Firearm Possession, IL 2016 · Illinois
- Michael Dee Cline, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia … · West Virginia
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