Rochester Man Sentenced to 146 Months in Prison (DOJ)

SOUTH BEND - Solomon Newcomb, 30 years old, of Rochester, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.

Newcomb was sentenced to 146 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, on September 22, 2024, officers pulled over a car in which Newcomb was a passenger. Newcomb ran, but officers caught up to him and arrested him. In the car, officers found Newcomb's backpack, which contained controlled substances, including about 150 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also recovered an AR-style rifle and more than 300 rounds of ammunition from Newcomb's bags in the car.

"Newcomb possessed and intended to distribute methamphetamine while heavily armed-a dangerous mix," said Proctor. "Thanks to the work of Fulton County officers and our team of investigators and prosecutors, Newcomb has been held accountable for trying to dispense this exceedingly harmful drug in our District."

This case was investigated by the Office Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Falvey.

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.