New Mexico man sentenced to over two years after incident in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A New Mexico man was sentenced to over two years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Joshua L. Metts, 41, of Albuquerque, was sentenced to two years and six months followed by two years of supervised release.

In October of 2021, staff at Four Winds Casino in South Bend found a baggie of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl that Metts dropped in the casino, according to case documents.

The next day, Metts went back to the casino and was arrested by Pokagon Tribal Police officers.

When police searched Metts' vehicle, they found a loaded handgun and ammunition, a small baggie of methamphetamine, syringes, and a tablespoon that had fentanyl residue on it, reports said.

Metts has a prior federal felony conviction out of the District of New Mexico so he can't be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.