A Benton Harbor man has been sentenced in a federal guns and drugs case.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced Thursday 22-year-old Earl Austin IV has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for his part in trafficking methamphetamine, guns, and machinegun switches. Austin is the last of 17 defendants, from three criminal indictments to be sentenced from this particular investigation.
Investigators say they seized more than one pound of methamphetamine, five firearms, and three machinegun switches over the course of six months during their investigation into the gun and drug ring. Undercover officers say they bought methamphetamine, fentanyl, and oxycodone from Austin on 17 different occasions. On two occasions in August and September of 2022, Austin sold machinegun switches to undercover officers, and he also allegedly sold an assault rifle and two handguns on three separate occasions from November to December 2022.
Police eventually executed a search warrant at Austin’s home and arrested him. At trial, Austin was found guilty on all 15 counts against him.
Totten says with gun crimes an epidemic around the country, “The families of Benton Harbor deserve to carry out their lives without the fear of violence.”
