Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Drug and Firearms Offenses

Press Release

Louisville, KY - A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on January 8, 2025, charging two local men with trafficking in firearms, distribution of methamphetamine, and illegal possession of firearms.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Sukhjit Bains, 51, was charged with two counts of trafficking in firearms, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, two counts 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 machinegun conversion device. A Glock Switch device allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic and is defined as a machine gun under federal law. All charges occurred on November 20th and December 12th of 2024. 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 in Jefferson County 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.

Jonathan Ernspiker, 42, was charged with trafficking in firearms, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. All charges occurred on November 20, 2024. Ernspiker was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On May 26, 2017, in Bullitt County Circuit Court, Ernspiker was convicted of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree methamphetamine.

On November 4, 2013, in Bullitt County Circuit Court, Ernspiker was convicted of fleeing or evading police in the first degree, and manufacturing methamphetamine in the first degree.

On May 3, 2013, in Bullitt County Circuit Court, Ernspiker was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree greater than two grams of methamphetamine.

On October 1, 2008, in Bullitt County Circuit Court, Ernspiker was convicted of criminal mischief in the first degree.

On January 10th Ernspiker and on January 13th Baines made an initial made initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the Ernspiker detained pending trial. Baines has a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow, January 16th. If convicted, Bains faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, Ernspiker faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter is prosecuting this case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Updated January 15, 2025