A Mishawaka man opened fire to protect his drug stash, only to end up behind bars for a decade. Jesus C. Madrigal, 25, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, federal prosecutors confirmed Thursday.
The South Bend District Court, under Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, handed down the maximum decade-long sentence followed by two years of supervised release. Madrigal admitted he was protecting narcotics intended for sale when he discharged a firearm at would-be robbers at his Mishawaka home in March 2016.
According to court documents, the incident wasn’t a case of self-defense—it was defense of contraband. Madrigal had no legal right to possess the weapon, and prosecutors emphasized that the gun was directly tied to his ongoing cocaine distribution operation.
Madrigal initially faced stiffer charges, but entered a guilty plea to a single count of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The plea deal still ensured a mandatory minimum of 10 years, a penalty designed to target armed drug dealers operating with impunity.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and South Bend Police Department led the investigation, unraveling Madrigal’s drug network and confirming the firearm’s role in protecting illicit profits. Investigators recovered evidence linking Madrigal to multiple drug sales prior to the shooting.
Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer prosecuted the case, calling the incident a clear example of how the drug trade fuels gun violence. ‘This wasn’t defense—it was escalation,’ Schaffer said. ‘He chose bullets over bail, and now he pays the price.’
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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