Denardo A. McCormack, a 34-year-old resident of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced to 211 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco on November 6, 2025.
According to court documents, McCormack manufactured and packaged methamphetamine pills at a house in South Bend. When police executed a search warrant on July 2, 2024, they found McCormack alone inside the residence along with thousands of blue pills containing methamphetamine. Authorities also recovered two pill presses, approximately 9.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nine loaded firearms, and over $26,000 in cash.
Acting U.S. Attorney M. Scott Proctor commented on the case: “Denardo McCormack in effect converted this house into a drug-trafficking bunker, complete with a nearly ten-pound supply of meth, a ready supply of cash, and an arsenal with which to defend both,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “These are the tools of a dealer with no compunction about putting his entire community in danger. Thankfully, our partners in state, local, and federal law enforcement, working with the excellent prosecutors in our Office, ended this danger by bringing his case to a just result. They should all be commended for their efforts.”
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke added: “The arrest and prosecution of Denardo McCormack should serve as a loud message to anyone in north central Indiana who chooses to sell drugs and commit acts of violence,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “Law enforcement and prosecutors will work tirelessly and with zeal to silence the cruelty and evilness of their ways. The Drug Enforcement Administration and its partners, specifically in the St. Joseph County region, work exceptionally well together. Drug trafficking organizations in the region should know this is not the place to wreak havoc; they will be held accountable for their crimes. Today, Mr. McCormack would suggest the same.”
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with support from several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), South Bend Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, Indiana State Police and St. Joseph County Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies at various levels as well as community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence nationwide through focused strategies aimed at building trust within communities while setting clear enforcement priorities.
