A South Bend man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Dedric Strickland, 41, was ordered to serve 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in January, a search warrant was executed at a South Bend residence where Strickland and others were located.

During the search, crack cocaine and a loaded handgun were found in the room where Strickland was staying.

A loaded AK-47 rifle with the stock sawed off was located in a room on the first floor of the home.

Strickland admitted to selling crack cocaine out of the home.

Strickland used these firearms to protect the drugs, proceeds of drug sales, and the people at the house where the drug dealing was taking place.

This case is being investigated by the ATF with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department.