A Bremen man arrested in February 2019 for allegedly trying to sell firearms in South Bend was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court.
48-year old Charles Hartsell was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by two years up supervised released.
According to court documents, Hartsell met with an associate at the Four Winds Casino in South Bend and transferred two guns, a .22-caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol from the associate’s car to Hartsell’s car. The two then went to meet with a man to try and sell the firearms, but the man refused.
Upon returning to the casino, Hartsell and the associate were arrested by Pokagon Band tribal officers.
Hartsell was charged with conspiracy to sell and dispose of one or more firearms to an unlawful user of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the FBI and ATF with the assistance of the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and to St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II and Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke N. Reilander
