South Bend Man Sentenced to 211 Months in Prison

SOUTH BEND - On November 6, 2025, Denardo A. McCormack, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.

Alwine was sentenced to 211 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, McCormack manufactured and packaged methamphetamine pills in a house in South Bend. On July 2, 2024, police executed a search warrant on the house and found McCormack alone inside, along with thousands of blue pills containing methamphetamine. Police recovered two pill presses, about 9.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nine loaded guns, and over $26,000 in cash.

"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."

"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."

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, South Bend Police, Mishawaka Police, Indiana State Police, and St. Joseph County Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.