NEW ALBANY, Ind. — A southern Indiana man will spend the next 15 years behind bars for selling drugs and guns out of his home.
Todd Nance, 40, of Sellersburg, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, armed drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Nance was a known drug dealer and was observed by law enforcement selling at least 263 grams of meth and various firearms out of his home in Sellersburg. Nance was on pretrial release for a portion of that time for multiple drug charges in state court, including felony possession of methamphetamine.
“The defendant threatened the safety of the community and endangered lives through his choice to engage in the illegal sale of guns and drugs," said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. "This sentence sends a very clear message – those who choose to profit from violence and drug addiction will find themselves facing lengthy prison time."
On April 29, Nance sold a .38 revolver and 115 grams of meth to another person for $1,550 cash. Nance carried a 9mm handgun in his waistband during the transaction.
On May 30, law enforcement officers searched his home with the court's approval. Investigators found 50 grams of meth, seven guns - including a 12 gauge sawed-off shotgun and a Ruger 9mm with an extended magazine - cocaine, fentanyl and assorted pills.
Nance is prohibited from possessing a gun due to previous felony convictions.
“This violent felon sold guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in our community—all while illegally armed with an arsenal that included a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Deadly drugs and deadly weapons in the hands of repeat offenders cause tremendous damage to every community, large and small. Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from career criminals like Nance, and I commend the FBI, Clarksville Police Department, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to take him off our streets."
The FBI and the Clarksville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.