Tony Horston, a 36-year-old resident of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced on April 1 to 101 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco handed down the sentence, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Horston will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. The sentencing follows an investigation that involved federal and local law enforcement agencies.
“A violent, armed, recidivist drug dealer is going to prison because the partnership of local law enforcement and federal agents interrupted his enterprise. We are safer because of their efforts,” Mildred said.
According to court documents, police executed a search warrant at Horston’s residence where they found approximately 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 51 grams of fentanyl, roughly $10,000 in cash, and three loaded firearms. Records show that Horston has multiple prior felony convictions including dealing cocaine, battery, resisting law enforcement, and unlawful carrying of a firearm—any one of which prohibited him from possessing firearms in this case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit as well as the Mishawaka Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together various levels of law enforcement with community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021 focused on building trust within communities; supporting prevention programs; setting strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring outcomes.
