Louisville Man Sentenced to 15 years for Drug and Firearms Offenses

Louisville, KY - A Louisville, Kentucky man was sentenced this week to 15 years in federal prison for trafficking in firearms, distribution of methamphetamine, and illegal possession of firearms.

U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Sukhjit Bains, 52, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking in firearms, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, specifically, a 3D-printed Glock type machine gun conversion device. A Glock switch device allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic and is defined as a machinegun under federal law.

On November 20, 2024, Bains sold 9 firearms and approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential law enforcement source. On December 12, 2024, Bains sold 6 firearms and approximately to 2 pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential law enforcement source. On January 10, 2025, a search warrant was executed on Bains' former business, "The Liquor Palace" at 5601 Preston Highway in Louisville. After searching the business and arresting Bains, law enforcement found an additional 31 firearms and smaller amounts of methamphetamine. All together, Bains was held responsible for illegally trafficking 99 firearms. Bains was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On November 28, 2018, in the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, Bains was convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

On March 28, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bains was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree-methamphetamine.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, IRS-CI and LMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter prosecuted the case with assistance of paralegal specialist Adela Alic.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Nashville is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, LMPD, DEA. IRS-CI, HSI, and FBI and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

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