SOUTH BEND - On July 22, 2026, Donald Cauffman, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Cauffman was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

"The Defendant will serve seven and a half years in prison and will be supervised for three years thereafter because he sought to poison our communities by distributing nearly ten pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators learned that the Defendant ordered approximately $4,700 worth of methamphetamine pills on the dark web with the intent to distribute them. The pills were delivered in two packages and had a combined weight of approximately 4.5 kilograms. Investigators with United States Postal Inspection service executed a controlled delivery of the packages and monitored the packages as the Defendant opened them. Thanks to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office led by Ken Cotter, the Defendant was able to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. The Defendant sought to profit from peddling this poison in our communities and we are safer because the drugs were intercepted and he is behind bars," said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.