SOUTH BEND — A former Warsaw man with a long criminal history has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a career criminal.

Jason Waikel, 47, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice.

Waikel was sentenced to 188 months in prison and 48 months of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, Waikel became a person of interest when Warsaw Police investigated an incident where shots were fired from a moving car in July of 2025. 

Police executed a search warrant on Waikel’s car and found a bullet hole in the driver’s side trunk lid. Police executed a search warrant on a storage unit that Waikel rented and recovered four firearms. 

Waikel later admitted to police that he had fired shots during the shooting incident. 

Waikel is legally considered an Armed Career Criminal, and is thus prohibited from possessing firearms. 

Waikel’s prior convictions include battery resulting in bodily injury and two different convictions for offenses committed on separate occasions for robbery while armed with a deadly weapon.

“The defendant has a 30-year criminal history of serious violent crimes involving firearms.  His continued use of drugs, violent behavior, and bad decisions constitute a flagrant disrespect for the rule of law and create a serious risk to our neighborhoods and communities of Northern Indiana.  

Close collaboration and strong partnerships between the Warsaw Police Department, the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were instrumental in bringing this man to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

“This case demonstrates the serious consequences for repeat violent offenders that illegally possess firearms. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Warsaw Police Department, and the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Barrier and former Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T. Jones.

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