Mishawaka Man Sentenced To Over 19 Years in Prison For Possessing With The Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

SOUTH BEND – Shane Inghels, 36 years old, of Mishawaka, IN, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr., after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Inghels was sentenced to a total of 235 months imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release when released from prison.

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “A violent offender was put in prison for his crimes.  Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to others that disregard for the rule of law will result in serious consequences.  My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to focus our efforts on career criminals, like Mr. Inghels.”

According to documents in the case, Inghels had outstanding warrants for failure to appear when he traveled from Mishawaka to Michigan City to sell methamphetamine. After meeting with individuals in Michigan City, he drove away from the area with a passenger in his car who was eight and a half months pregnant. Police officers began following his vehicle, at which point he sped away and fled from police down a highway while driving at speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour. Inghels drove into oncoming traffic and through stop lights while the passenger in his car begged him to stop. After driving more than ten miles, Inghels lost control of the car and crashed into a ditch. He got out of the car and ran away, leaving his pregnant passenger behind. Inghels only stopped when police officers deployed a K-9 to assist them in taking him into custody. Inghels had over $2,500.00 on him when officers caught him. Officers found Inghels’s safe in the trunk of the car, which was filled with over 65 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms.  Inghels has several felony convictions, which not only qualifies him as a felon in possession of a firearm but also as an armed career criminal.  Since age 18, Inghels’ crime actions have included breaking into a home to steal firearms; beating a person in a parking lot until the victim suffered a concussion and a broken nose; manufacturing methamphetamine; breaking into a garage to steal items to sell; beating a person while in jail; and committing offenses while on probation.    

This case was investigated by the ATF and the LaPorte County Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Indiana State Police, Michigan City Police Department, New Carlisle Police Department, and St. Joseph County Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.