Indianapolis Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Machine Gun Possession and Mail Theft

Strategic Insights -

Derrick Barbour, a 28-year-old from Indianapolis, has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of multiple charges related to machine gun possession and mail theft. The case began when police discovered a stolen vehicle at a gas station in Marion County, Indiana, with Barbour as the sole occupant. A search of the vehicle uncovered a range of incriminating evidence, including a machine gun, stolen firearms, and hundreds of checks stolen from the U.S. Postal Service.

Key Takeaways:

  • Derrick Barbour, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a machine gun, and other charges.
  • Barbour was convicted by a jury in April 2024 and ordered to pay $3,203 in restitution to two victims.
  • Police discovered a stolen vehicle at a gas station in Marion County, Indiana, with Barbour as the sole occupant on February 10, 2023.
  • A search of the vehicle uncovered a Glock 9mm handgun fully loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition and equipped with a machine gun conversion device, making it a fully automatic weapon.
  • Law enforcement also recovered a stolen Glock 17, a Glock 20 10mm handgun, and several magazines, as well as two envelopes containing hundreds of checks stolen from the U.S. Postal Service.
  • Agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General identified two arrow keys used to open blue collection boxes in Barbour's vehicle.
  • USPS-OIG agents also found additional stolen checks and money orders valued at more than $1.2 million, with several checks altered to change the payee's name to be payable to the defendant.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fischer with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois handled the prosecution.

Statistics:

  • 15 years: length of sentence for Derrick Barbour
  • $3,203: amount of restitution Barbour was ordered to pay to two victims
  • $1.2 million: value of stolen checks and money orders recovered by law enforcement
  • 50 rounds: number of ammunition rounds found in Barbour's possession
  • 2: number of arrow keys used to open blue collection boxes found in Barbour's vehicle
  • 1,202: number of stolen checks and money orders recovered by USPS-OIG agents
  • 28: age of Derrick Barbour at the time of sentencing
  • 1: count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • 1: count of possession of a machine gun
  • 1: count of keys or locks stolen or reproduced
  • 1: count of unlawful possession of stolen mail
  • 1: count of bank fraud

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois
  • United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General