Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Mishawaka, Indiana Man Sentenced
For Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin
OUTH BEND - Reginald Blackburn, age 26, of Mishawka, Indiana, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Blackburn was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, between August and October 2017, Blackburn was part of a group of people who sold heroin in the South Bend and Mishawaka area. They shared at least one cellphone, which they used to arrange sales of heroin. Members of the group would pick up pre-packaged baggies of heroin, usually one-half gram, from members of the group and sell the heroin to people who called the shared cellphone. The price charged for the heroin was set by people who were higher up in the group. Blackburn was involved between August and October, but others in the group operated before he joined. Between March and September, 2017, the phone was used for about 66,000 calls and text messages.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the St. Joseph County Drug Investigations Unit, the local federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, ATF, St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, South Bend Police and Elkhart Police. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Molly Donnelly.
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