An Osceola man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Lonnie Painter, 57, admitted, last year, that he possessed two loaded 9mm pistols that were purchased by his late wife.

The pistols were discovered when Painter’s vehicles were repossessed by a Michigan bail bondsman.

Painter was convicted previously of second degree murder in Tennessee and attempted murder in LaPorte.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents raided his South Bend home and business. Investigators also connected his name to remains of a woman found in Osceola in Mar

The following information regarding Painter’s sentencing was sent to 95.3 MNC from the U.S. Department of Justice:

Lonnie Painter, age 57, of Osceola, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Mr. Painter was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. 

According to documents in this case, between June of 2018 and November of 2018, Mr. Painter admitted that he possessed two loaded 9mm pistols that were purchased by his late wife. The pistols were discovered when Mr. Painter’s vehicles were repossessed by a Michigan bail bondsman. Mr. Painter was convicted previously of Second Degree Murder in Tennessee and Attempted Murder in LaPorte, Indiana.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department.  The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Schultz.