Southern District of Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS- Dreshaun Carter, 26, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on February 1, 2022, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents arrested Dreshaun Carter on a federal warrant for distributing methamphetamine.

DEA agents executed a search warrant at Carter’s residence, where they located over 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over 900 grams of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of crack cocaine, $90,123 in U.S. currency, digital scales, 19 firearms, and police body armor. Three of the firearms were stolen.

At the time of his arrest, Carter was on community corrections with GPS monitoring and had previously been convicted of a felony for dealing narcotics.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor, and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“His prior drug dealing felony and supervision by Community Corrections didn’t deter the defendant from pushing fentanyl, meth, and crack into our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Even wearing a GPS monitor, he still chose to arm himself to the teeth—with nineteen guns and police body armor. The serious federal prison sentence imposed today will hopefully convince him to finally change his ways when he is released. I commend the DEA and IMPD for their investigation and commitment to protect the public from dangerous, repeat drug traffickers.”

DEA and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Carter be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years after his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

EVANSVILLE- Seroy A. Mobley, 38, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. He was the leader of the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, and the last of its four members to be sentenced.

According to court documents, between January and June of 2018, Seroy Mobley, Carl Kirkland, Seneca Binder, and Eric Wilkerson conspired to deal methamphetamine in Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Mobley was the leader of the conspiracy, obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from his source of supply, Kirkland. Kirkland shipped the meth from California to Evansville via U.S. mail. Mobley then distributed the narcotics to Binder and Wilkerson, who were mid-level distributors in the Evansville and Whitestown, Kentucky communities.

During the execution of a search warrant at Mobley’s Evansville residence, Evansville Police Department officers located a .38 caliber revolver, two digital scales, and 384 grams of meth in an infant’s room.

Mobley is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous state conviction for cocaine possession and federal conviction for armed drug trafficking. Mobley was released from federal prison for his prior conviction on June 25, 2015, and was still on federal supervised release when he was arrested for his role in the January 2018 conspiracy. 

In total, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Police Department seized 25 pounds of methamphetamine and a .38 caliber revolver involved in the conspiracy.

 

As of today, all four defendants have been sentenced as follows:

Defendant

Offenses

Sentence

Seroy Mobley, 38,

of Evansville, IN

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

Illegally possessing a firearm

16.6 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

3 years’ license revocation

Carl Kirkland, 57,

of Antioch, California

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

10 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Seneca Binder, 41,

of Evansville, IN

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

10 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Eric Wilkerson, 41,

of Whitestown, Kentucky

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

15 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“The methamphetamine ravaging our families and neighborhoods doesn’t come from nowhere,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Drug traffickers like those convicted in this case bring this poison from thousands of miles away and pump it onto our streets. We will continue to work with our partners at the DEA and Evansville Police Department to dismantle these meth trafficking conspiracies and hold them accountable.”

The DEA investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Evansville Police Department. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.

Previous release here.

###

EVANSVILLE- Deariel Simmons, 29, of Evansville, Indiana was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on July 15, 2020, officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Postal Service (USPIS) opened an investigation into Simmons after intercepting a package sent from California that contained two kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside of a paint can. The package was delivered to an Evansville address where Simmons was observed picking it up and leaving in his Ford Fusion.

When Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop of Simmons, he fled the scene and led deputies on a vehicle pursuit. Simmons eventually threw the package out the window of his vehicle, then jumped out and fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, deputies lost track of Simmons when he jumped over a six-foot fence and ran toward civilians. Dash cam footage showed Simmons later returning to his truck and leaving the scene. Simmons escaped but was later located and arrested.

On October 8, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Simmons’ residence. Officers seized five digital scales, a plastic bag containing 17.6 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, an electronic money counter, a body armor vest, four loaded firearms, and ammunition.

Simmons is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony robbery conviction in Vanderburgh County. 

“This defendant was a tremendous danger to our community: trafficking meth, fleeing from police, and illegally equipping himself with loaded guns and body armor,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “His prior felony convictions make these crimes all the more egregious. The serious federal prison sentence imposed today shows that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our partners at the USPIS, DEA, and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, will not tolerate armed methamphetamine traffickers in our neighborhoods.”

“This successful partnership between the US Postal Inspection Service, the DEA, and local law enforcement should serve as a warning to anyone dealing in these dangerous and illegal substances that the Postal Inspection Service and our partners are unwavering in our mission to identify and disrupt their illegal activity,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector-in-Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Detroit Division.

DEA and USPIS investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Simmons be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren M. Wheatley, Matthew B. Miller, and Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.

###

INDIANAPOLIS: Brad Bevington, 51, of Indianapolis was sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on April 7, 2021, Bevington was arrested for child exploitation in Marion County, Indiana in a case related to uploading files depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to Twitter and Dropbox. Bevington was released on a $100,000 surety bond in April 2021.

On September 3, 2021, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) received a CyberTip, submitted by Snapchat, reporting that an account later proved to be used by Bevington had uploaded videos depicting adults engaging in sexual intercourse with prepubescent boys. Further investigation revealed that Bevington used Snapchat to send sexually explicit videos involving children to other Snapchat users while he was on bond for the Marion County offenses.  

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office, and Chief Randal Taylor of IMPD made the announcement. 

“Those who sexually exploit children using online platforms are dangerous predators,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These criminals should pay great attention to the sentence imposed today. Our law enforcement partners will identify you and make our children safer by sending you to federal prison.”

The U.S Secret Service and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Jude James R. Sweeney. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered Bevington to pay $11,000 in restitution to the child victims, as well as $250 to the Amy, Vicki and Andy Act Fund. Bevington must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thank Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov, who prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Ryan Mack, 41, of Indianapolis was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on November 13, 2020, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were dispatched to an Indianapolis residence on reports of a person shot. When officers arrived, they learned that Michael Mack’s wife had been shot in the right arm during an altercation with Mack.

During a search of the residence, officers located a 9mm handgun with a spent shell casing still inside the barrel, and 11 live rounds in the magazine. Mack was located later that day at a hotel in Greenwood, Indiana, where officers found another 9mm handgun in the room.

Mack is prohibited from possessing a firearm and is considered an armed career criminal under federal law due to his previous felony convictions including Armed Robbery, Dealing in a Controlled Substance, and three convictions for Burglary.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

“We have prioritized federal prosecution of armed domestic abusers because of the extreme danger they pose to those in their homes and the public at large,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The victim in this case will be protected from her abuser for many years, because of the excellent work of IMPD, the ATF, and our federal prosecutor. This sentence should serve as a warning anyone who is involved in domestic violence and illegally armed: get rid of the guns or risk a long term in federal prison.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Mack be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.

###

EVANSVILLE- Shane C. Collins, 34, of Warrick County, Indiana was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on March 7, 2021, Collins recorded a video of himself engaging in a sex act with a seven-year-old girl. Between March 17 and March 19, 2021, Collins took additional sexually explicit pictures of the child. Collins saved the recordings of his sexual abuse of the child using an internet cloud-based data storage application.

“Every child deserves to grow up safe, loved, and free from sexual abuse. Sexual predators like this defendant inflict lifelong trauma on vulnerable victims to satisfy their own criminal lusts,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Every day he is in federal prison is another day we can be certain he will not harm a child. I commend the work of the FBI and the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office for ensuring that the public and the victim are protected from any further abuses by this dangerous pedophile.”

“I want to commend both the efforts of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI to put this perpetrator behind bars. These criminal acts are not only horrendous in nature, but knowing this individual participated in taking advantage of a child in our community is very concerning,” said Sheriff Michael Wilder of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office. “This sentence is an example of great teamwork among local and federal agencies.” 

“No amount of time in federal prison seems adequate for those who sexually exploit children, but this sentence clearly demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to identify these predators and ensure they can never victimize innocent children again,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge, Herbert J Stapleton.

The FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Collins be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for LIFE following his release from federal prison. Collins must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney, Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

###

EVANSVILLE- A federal grand jury indicted Michele Rose, 61, of Jasper, Indiana, on twelve counts of wire fraud and twelve counts of forging checks related to an alleged near-decade-long scheme to embezzle over $150,000 from a nonprofit healthcare organization headquartered in Jasper. The indictment was unsealed on February 28, 2023, following Rose’s arrest and initial appearance.

According to court documents, Rose served as the Medical Staff Coordinator for a nonprofit for many years. During her employment, Rose would occasionally make business-related purchases with her personal funds, for which she would be reimbursed by the business upon proof of receipt. From March 2011 to December 2020, Rose allegedly used her position to embezzle $153,769.00 by writing 165 fraudulent checks to herself for reimbursement of purchases that she never made. Rose made numerous false representations to organization leadership to obtain signed, blank checks to reimburse herself for nonexistent expenses. Once the blank checks were signed, Rose wrote them to herself for various amounts and deposed the funds into her personal account. Rose then fraudulently concealed the fake reimbursements by omitting them from financial reports to organization leadership.

If convicted, Rose faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office, and Nathan Schmitt, Chief of Police for the Jasper Police Department made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Johnathon Griffin, 42, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of commercial robbery.

According to court documents, between January 25, 2021, and February 2nd, 2021, Johnathon Griffin robbed, or attempted to rob, the following seven Indianapolis businesses:

DATE

VICTIM BUSINESS

January 25, 2021

Family Dollar, 1836 E. 10th Street

January 26, 2021

Circle-K, 6734 E. Washington Street

January 26, 2021

Speedway, 2012 English Avenue

January 31, 2021

Dollar General, 3725 N. Keystone Avenue

January 31, 2021

Family Dollar, 5131 N. Keystone Avenue

February 1, 2021

Circle-K, 2080 N. Shadeland Avenue

February 2, 2021

Dollar General, 8323 E. Washington Street

During each of the robberies, Griffin brandished what appeared to be a firearm at victim employees, made threats, and demanded money from the business’ cash register.

On February 2, 2021, investigators with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department conducted surveillance of Griffin after identifying him as a suspect in prior robberies. Investigators followed Griffin to the Dollar General located on East Washington Street, near Warren Park. Griffin entered the store, brandished what appeared to be a firearm when the register was opened, and demanded money from the employee. Griffin grabbed the entire register drawer and ran from the store and attempted to flee in a vehicle. IMPD officers pursued Griffin as he fled. Soon after the pursuit began, Griffin crashed into two other vehicles and was immediately arrested by IMPD officers. During a search of Griffin’s vehicle, officers located a revolver style BB-gun matching the description of the weapon used in the seven robberies.

“Over just eight days, this defendant repeatedly intimidated, threatened, and robbed hard working employees of seven different businesses,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Violent spree criminals like this defendant are a grave danger to the public. Reducing violence in our communities is a top federal law enforcement priority, and I commend the FBI and IMPD for their work to hold the defendant accountable for his crimes.”

“The defendant’s spree of violent robberies terrorized innocent victims who were simply doing their jobs,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This sentence demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement partners to ensure violent offenders such as this are held accountable, and residents can feel safe in their homes and places of work.”

The FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Griffin be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Griffin must also pay restitution to each victim.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Carla Burke, 63, of Anderson, Indiana was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and falsifying tax documents.  

According to court documents, Carla Burke served as the Anderson Community School Corporation (ACSC) Food Service Department’s Bookkeeper since 2007. As part of her employment duties, Burke maintained the financial records, bank account, and vendor invoices for the Food Service Department, and generated checks in the name of the Department for payments to vendors.

From January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2019, Burke issued checks in the name of ACSC Food Service to herself as the payee and then cashed the checks at her personal bank. Burke falsified records by recording that the payee was a vendor, rather than herself. Burke then cashed the checks and used the money for her own personal expenditures, including gambling.

In order to conceal her scheme, Burke failed to report approximately $225,381 in income derived from the checks on five years of income tax returns, then lied to federal agents about her conduct.

The scheme was uncovered during a routine, scheduled Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit. SBOA conducted a disbursement of funds test and found missing documentation. In total, Burke cleared approximately 312 fraudulent checks totaling $976,773.29 in losses to ACSC.

“The defendant stole nearly a million dollars intended to put food in the mouths of children to satisfy her own greed,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Public employment is a public trust, and the sentence imposed today shows that those who violate that trust will be held accountable. I commend the SBOA for their diligence and partnership with our office as we combat waste, fraud, and abuse on behalf of all Hoosiers.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, and Indiana State Board of Accounts investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Burke be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from Federal prison. Burke was also ordered to pay $976,772.39 in restitution to Anderson Community School Corporation and $141,190 to the Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.

###

EVANSVILLE- Ellen L. Corn, 47, of Petersburg, Indiana has been indicted by a federal grand jury on fifteen counts of wire fraud, after allegedly embezzling over $156,000 from a Dubois County nonprofit organization that facilitates a youth mentoring program. The indictment was unsealed on February 27, 2023, following Corn’s arrest and initial appearance.

According to court documents, Corn served as the Executive Director for the nonprofit from March 2017 through August 2022. During her employment, Corn had various financial responsibilities including entering all income and expenses into the organization’s accounting software.

Over that five-year period, Corn allegedly stole more than $156,000 by using an organizational credit card for personal expenses without authorization. She attempted to conceal her unauthorized purchases by not entering them into the accounting software. Corn allegedly used the organization’s credit card to purchase goods and services from various businesses, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and to make payments to colleges. Further, Corn allegedly used the credit card to make electronic payments from the official business PayPal account to her personal PayPal account. Once the funds appeared in her PayPal account, she transferred them to her personal checking account.

If convicted of wire fraud, Corn faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office, and Nathan Schmitt, Chief of Police for the Jasper Police Department made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Max Gellersen, 27, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.

According to court documents, on August 6, 2020, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to a domestic disturbance. By the time the officers had arrived, Gellersen had left the home. The victim stated that Gellersen pointed a gun at her, struck and choked her.  

Later that day, officers attempted to stop Gellersen for a probation violation while he was driving. Gellersen failed to comply and led police on 120 mile per hour vehicle chase that ultimately ended when his vehicle caught on fire. While under arrest, Gellersen directed police to where they would find the firearm in his home.

IMPD officers searched Gellersen’s home and found a Colt Series 4 handgun in the exact location that Gellersen described. Gellersen is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his 2018 misdemeanor conviction for Domestic Battery in Boone County.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Randal Taylor, Chief of Police for IMPD, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

“Many illegally armed perpetrators of gun violence in the home and in mass shootings have a prior history of committing domestic violence,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with ATF and IMPD, will continue to prioritize federal prosecution of the armed criminals who pose the greatest danger to those closest to them and to the public. The sentence imposed today demonstrates that domestic abusers who choose to illegally possess guns risk significant time in federal prison with no possibility of parole.”

ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Gellersen by supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Abhi Kambli and Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Matthew Archer, 59, of McCordsville, Indiana, has been convicted of wire fraud.

According to court documents, from 2006 to December of 2019, Matthew Archer served as the treasurer for an industrial union (the Union) located in Indianapolis, Indiana. As part of his employment, Archer was responsible for maintaining the Union’s bank accounts and records.

On multiple occasions between 2013 and 2019, Archer illegally transferred funds from the Union’s bank account into his personal bank accounts. Between 2017 and 2019, Archer also electronically transferred funds from the Union’s bank account into his own to pay his personal car loan.

Additionally, in 2018 and 2019, Archer submitted fraudulent Labor Organization Annual Reports to the Department of Labor. On these forms, Archer falsely reported the Union’s assets and overstated how much money was in its bank account. On both occasions, Archer reported that the Union had $151,000 available when it actually had less than $11,000. 

To conceal his scheme, Archer created fraudulent bank statements that overstated how much money was in the Union’s accounts and forged the signatures of the Union’s auditors on internal reports.

In total, Archer embezzled $91,951.86 from the Union, and has been ordered to repay the stolen funds as restitution.

“For years, this defendant lied and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets at the expense of the union and members he was supposed to serve,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This prosecution demonstrates that the Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are watching, and those who embezzle funds will be held accountable.”

“Safeguarding financial integrity and combating fraud in labor unions is a high priority for the U.S. Department of Labor,” said Megan Ireland, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. “Most union officials do their work with great care, but Matthew Archer betrayed the trust placed in him by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and embezzled over $91,000 from LIUNA Local 1325, at the expense of LIUNA and its members. OLMS continuously works to identify criminal violations and pursue legal action when individuals unlawfully exploit their union positions without regard to the best interests of the union and its members.”

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Archer has been ordered to pay $82,462.02 in restitution. 

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Dennis, 38, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on April 20, 2021, investigators with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest Dennis on several outstanding warrants while he was staying at a Baymont Hotel in Kokomo. Dennis refused to let officers into the room and informed them that he had a gun.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene and made several attempts to get Dennis to exit the room. Officers eventually emitted pepper spray under the door. Dennis told officers “if you spray that s**t one more time, I am going to shoot,” at which point, he fired a shot into the ceiling of the hotel room.

After several hours of negotiations, Dennis exited the room and was safely taken into custody. Officers located a 9mm pistol inside the room.

Dennis is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his multiple previous felony convictions including Criminal Recklessness, Strangulation, and Battery on a Child.

The sentence was announced by Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division and Jerry Asher, Howard County Sheriff.

“Every day, law enforcement officers do their duty to protect their public, knowing they may encounter a violent offender with a gun,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We have seen far too many tragedies in Indiana, and across the country when, law enforcement officers encounter criminals with a history of domestic violence and a gun in their hands. It is a testament to the skill, professionalism, and training of the responding Howard County Deputies that this defendant was arrested without injury to the public, law enforcement officers, or himself. The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of our office, the ATF, and our law enforcement partners to protect the public from these dangerous offenders.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Dennis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and be subject to a $1,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that the Southern District of Indiana has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released yesterday. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.

“Accountability for businesses and individual wrongdoers are important priorities in our efforts to combat corporate crime,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Businesses in America benefit greatly from the protections and opportunities afforded by our rule of law--and must abide by it. This new national Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for all U.S. Attorney’s Offices provides more predictable outcomes and incentivizes companies to do the right thing when wrongdoing is uncovered. Companies and their counsel should take note: honest businesses that voluntarily self-disclose criminal activity when it is discovered, fully cooperate with investigations and prosecutions, and remediate their criminal conduct, will fare far better than those that do not.”

The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.

Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a corporate guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.

The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a corporate guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.

In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.

The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. U.S. Attorney Myers sits on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s White Collar Crime subcommittee.

The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Amber Bailey, 41, of Richmond, Indiana, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents, in September of 2020, the FBI began investigating Bailey after she distributed 25 grams of a fentanyl mixture and 9 grams of methamphetamine to another individual. On October 8, 2020, Bailey helped an accomplice distribute 54 grams of methamphetamine and 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture to the same individual.

On November 5, 2020, FBI investigators served a search warrant at Bailey’s Richmond residence. During the course of the search, investigators found 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture, a 9mm handgun and ammunition, $500 in cash, and lactose, a known cutting agent for dilution of controlled substances.

“The increase in fentanyl overdoses in our neighborhoods is a crisis—drug poisonings are now the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45 years old. The defendant had a direct hand in pushing this poison into our community,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed fentanyl traffickers are a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. With our federal, state, and local partners, we are committed to dismantling these operations and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”

“Fentanyl has become a serious and life-threatening problem in Indiana,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Indianapolis Office. “The FBI will join with all our federal, state, and local partners as often as possible to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Wayne County Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Bailey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison.  

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Richard Gammon, 26, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to committing three bank robberies.

According to court documents, on December 17, 2020, Gammon entered a Fifth Third Bank on East 82nd Street in Indianapolis and approached the teller. Gammon showed the teller a cellphone with text on the screen that displayed words to the effect of “give me all the 100s and 50s in your drawer. No sudden moves. No alarms and no one will get hurt.” The teller complied and gave Gammon approximately $1,000 from the drawer.

On January 19, 2021, Gammon robbed the Regions Bank on 82nd Street in Indianapolis. Once again, Gammon showed the teller a cellphone with text on the screen that displayed words to the effect of “Give me all the money in the top drawer. Don’t trip any alarms or signal or message anyone.” The teller complied and gave Gammon $1,360 from the drawer.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigators determined the two robberies were likely committed by the same offender. Police later received two Crime-Stoppers tips identifying Gammon as the robbery suspect and began an investigation, which was joined by the FBI.

On the morning of April 11, 2021, Gammon entered the PNC Bank located on 96th street in Fishers, Indiana. Gammon asked the teller about opening an account, and then showed them his phone which displayed a message to the effect of “Give me 5000 dollars. All big bills. No alarm. No button.” The teller complied and gave Gammon $760.

Investigators were able to locate Gammon soon after the PNC Bank robbery, and followed him to his Castleton apartment building, where he was taken into custody. Investigators executed a search warrant at Gammons’ apartment and recovered some of the bills he stole that morning.

“Bank robbery is a very serious crime that carries very serious consequences,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of federal and local law enforcement agencies to protect the public from repeat criminals like this defendant. I am grateful to the FBI, IMPD, and Fishers Police Department for their persistence in identifying this serial robber and holding him accountable.”

“This sentence is the culmination of the investigative collaboration between agencies to ensure that this violent individual was held fully accountable for his actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “It should send a clear message that robbing financial institutions in the state of Indiana will have one final outcome - a long sentence in federal prison.”

IMPD and FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Fishers Police Department. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Gammon be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Gammon must also pay restitution of $1,000 to Fifth Third Bank and $1,360 to Regions Bank.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case.

###

EVANSVILLE- Jesse Wilson, 37, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for his part in a larger conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Wilson is the last of fifteen members of a large-scale methamphetamine distribution conspiracy based in Evansville. Central Holman, IV, 31, of Owensboro, Kentucky was the main source of methamphetamine for the conspiracy, whose ringleaders were Gary Forston, 42, and Jason Kyle Wilson, 45, both of Evansville. Many of the defendants were members and associates of the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club.

“The members of this conspiracy will spend many years in federal prison for pumping large quantities of methamphetamine onto our streets,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Methamphetamine use devastates so many families and kills hundreds of Hoosiers every year. That’s why we will work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle armed organizations trafficking in deadly drugs. The sentences imposed in this case demonstrate our commitment to protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.”

“Drugs destroy communities by themselves, but the deadly results are compounded as criminal enterprises use firearms enforce their illegal trade.” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to lock up those putting poison into our community.”

“Individuals like Mr. Wilson who are part of a violent methamphetamine trafficking organization must be held accountable for their actions. The DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners in order to keep our communities safe,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “The DEA commends the outstanding work of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, Evansville Police Department, Owensboro, KY Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the countless hours spent bringing these individuals to justice.”

According to court documents, beginning in at least 2018, Central Holman, IV, served as the main source of supply of methamphetamine for the conspiracy, while Gary Forston and Jason Kyle Wilson served as ring leaders of the conspiracy to distribute to mid and low-level distributors.

The investigation began in 2019 when law enforcement officers arrested Jason Kyle Wilson for the armed dealing of methamphetamine in Evansville, Indiana. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) found that Holman first began distributing methamphetamine to Jason Wilson and Clarence Grubbs in late 2018 or early 2019. Holman resided in Owensboro, Kentucky and often met members of the conspiracy there or in Evansville to distribute the methamphetamine. Holman distributed approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine to members of the conspiracy in 2019 and at least 50 pounds in 2018.

Once they acquired the drug, Forston and Wilson distributed the methamphetamine to mid-level distributors, Adam Lafferty, Shane Lewis, James Benton, Brian Eden, Paul Overby, Kimberly Wilson, Jesse Wilson, Matthew Meredith, Clarence Grubbs, Daniel Wiscaver, and April Martin. Among the locations used to distribute and receive money for the substances was The Grim Reapers Motorcycle Clubhouse located on East Diamond Avenue in Evansville.

Law enforcement officers seized over 20 firearms and over $10,000 in United States currency during the course of the investigation. The conspiracy was responsible for over 80 pounds of methamphetamine distributed in the Southern District of Indiana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is currently in litigation to seeking to forfeit the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Clubhouse as the proceeds and instrumentality of criminal conduct.

As of today, all 15 defendants have been sentenced as follows:

DEFENDANT

OFFENSES

SENTENCE

Central Holman IV, 31, Owensboro, KY.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine,

21 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Gary Wayne Forston, 42, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine

16 years’ imprisonment

5 supervised release

Jason Kyle Wilson, 45, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Felon in Possession of a Firearm

18 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Adam Lafferty, 41, Evansville, IN

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

10 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Shane Lewis, 35, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Providing a Firearm to a Prohibited Person

12.5 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

James Benton, 69, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

5 years’ imprisonment

3 years supervised release

Brian Eden, 43, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

12.5 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Paul Overby, 48, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine

15 years’ imprisonment

7 years supervised release

Kimberly Wilson, 41, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

7.25 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Jesse Wilson, 37, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

8 years’ imprisonment

3 years supervised release

Matthew Meredith, 43, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

11 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Clarence Grubbs, 51, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

16 years’ imprisonment

5 years supervised release

Daniel Wiscaver, 64, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Time served

3 years supervised release

April Martin, 51, Evansville, IN.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

3 years’ imprisonment

2 years supervised release

Derek Sander, 51, Evansville, IN.

Providing a Firearm to a Prohibited Person

Time served

3 years supervised release

ATF and DEA Evansville investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

See previous press release here.

EVANSVILLE- Christopher Stafford, 37, of Princeton, Indiana and Donnell White, 47, of Louisville, Kentucky have been sentenced to 5 and 10 years in federal prison, respectively. Both defendants pled guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, between November 6 and 22 of 2019, Christopher Stafford and Donell White conspired together to possess and distribute between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine ice.

On November 20, 2019, law enforcement officers pulled Stafford over in Princeton, Indiana. During the traffic stop, officers searched the vehicle and located approximately 190 grams of methamphetamine. When interviewed by police, Stafford admitted to distributing additional methamphetamine that he purchased from Donnell White over a prior, two-week period.

On November 22, 2019, White agreed to sell one pound of methamphetamine to Stafford for $3,800. White agreed to deliver the substances from Louisville, Kentucky to Stafford’s residence in Gibson County, Indiana. On the same day, Stafford was stopped by law enforcement officers on Interstate 64. During the traffic stop, officers located approximately one pound of methamphetamine in Stafford’s vehicle. 

The sentence was announced by Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Indianapolis Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Doug Carter, Superintendent of the Indiana State Police, and Derek McGraw, Chief of Police for the Princeton Police Department.

“Methamphetamine has devastating, and sometimes deadly, effects on users, their families, and our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Concerted efforts to bring this deadly drug across state lines and into our district will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to find those responsible for significant drug trafficking and hold them accountable in federal court.”

“The sentencing of Mr. Stafford and Mr. White send an important message that drug traffickers will be held accountable for selling poison on our streets. It is a big win for law enforcement when we can stop highly addictive drugs, such as methamphetamine, from reaching our communities and causing harm,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state and local partners to keep our communities safe. DEA commends the outstanding work of the Princeton Police Department, Indiana State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office during the course of this investigation.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Princeton Indiana Police Department and Indiana State Police. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that both Stafford and White be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 and 5 years, respectively.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS- Jacqueline Anderson, 37, of Rushville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, on May 6, 2021, Rush County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped Jacqueline Anderson after observing a traffic violation. As officers were running Anderson’s information through their database, a K9 officer indicated the presence of drugs in Anderson’s Chevy Blazer. Deputies asked Anderson to remove the keys that were around her neck. Attached to the keys were brass knuckles and a zipper pouch containing methamphetamine.

Deputies searched the vehicle and located numerous sealed bags of pure methamphetamine on the rear passenger floorboard. Deputies also located two scales in the vehicle. In all, Anderson possessed approximately 267 grams of pure methamphetamine and intended to distribute the drugs to others.

In 2017, Anderson was convicted of Arson, a serious violent felony, in Henry County, Indiana.

The sentence was announced by said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Indianapolis Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice.

“Methamphetamine dealers like this defendant fuel the scourge of substance abuse disorders and drug poisonings afflicting our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that law enforcement agencies will hold criminals accountable for pushing deadly drugs in our neighborhoods. We will continue to work with our excellent partners in the Rush County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA to make our communities safer.”

“The sentencing of Ms. Anderson was justified. Individuals who deal large quantities of debilitating drugs such as methamphetamine must be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state and local partners to keep our communities safe.  DEA commends the outstanding work by the Rush County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Attorney’s Office during the course of this investigation.”      

The DEA and Rush County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Anderson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following her release from federal prison, and be subject to a $500.00 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

Indianapolis- A federal jury has found Charles House, 40, of Anderson, Indiana, guilty on all twelve counts, including attempting to traffic methamphetamine, trafficking in over 100 kilograms of marijuana, and illegally possessing twelve firearms.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, in October 2018, the Madison County Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into Charles House’s drug trafficking organization. House traveled to California to purchase narcotics and then mailed the narcotics to multiple addresses in Anderson, Indiana. The drugs were then redistributed by co-conspirators Sean Brown and Marcus Hayes-Patterson in Anderson. Tommy Compton was House’s Indianapolis source of supply for marijuana. Defendants facilitated their drug trafficking activities through the use of cellular phones and often used code words to try to conceal their illegal activities.   

“Armed traffickers of deadly drugs are a menace to our communities and fuel our crisis of substance use disorders,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Anderson and Indianapolis residents are safer today because this drug trafficking organization has been dismantled and its participants are off our streets. I commend our federal and local law enforcement partners for their efforts to hold these drug dealers accountable and get their drugs and guns out of our neighborhoods.”

“Any time large amounts of illegal drugs can be removed from the streets in order to keep our communities safe, it is a win,” said FB Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This clearly demonstrates that through agencies working together to target those engaged in drug trafficking, criminal organizations such as this can be identified and shut down.”

“Local law enforcement has had many interactions with Charles House stemming back several years,” said Chief Michael Lee of the Anderson Police Department. “We appreciate and value our relationship with the FBI, which has allowed us to remove Charles House and his criminal associates from our Anderson and Madison County communities.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Anderson Police Department, Madison County Drug Task Force, and Muncie Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker presided over the trial. House faces up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has yet to be determined. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Previous press release here.

NEW ALBANY- Christopher Hill, 35, of Louisville Kentucky, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Hill was convicted on all charged counts at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on November 5, 2020, Jeffersonville Police (JPD) Officers stopped Christopher Hill for a suspected traffic violation. At the time, Hill was the subject of two outstanding arrest warrants from Louisville, Kentucky, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for crimes of violence involving drug trafficking. During the arrest, two baggies filled with approximately 101.6 grams of methamphetamine fell from Hill’s pocket. A further search of Hill’s vehicle uncovered multiple cellular devices, marijuana, and $5,000 in cash. Further investigation revealed that Hill used Facebook messages to advertise that he had controlled substances for sale, and used Facebook and text messaging to arrange drug transactions.

“Drug dealers must be held accountable for the harm that their methamphetamine does to people and families impacted by substance use disorders,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The sentence imposed here reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the need to protect the community. I commend the work of the FBI and the Jeffersonville Police Department for their efforts to get this meth trafficker off our streets.”

The FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Jeffersonville Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Hill be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William L. McCoskey and Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results

INDIANAPOLIS – Carl Davis, 24, of Indianapolis, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements to the United States Postal Inspection Service. The indictment was unsealed on February 13, 2022, following Davis’s arrest and initial appearance.

According to court documents, on April 8, 2022, Carl Davis falsely claimed to members of the United States Postal Inspection Service that he had witnessed the April 1, 2022, armed robbery of a postal worker. Davis provided the name of an individual who he claimed was the robber and stated that the alleged robber later confessed to Davis that he had committed the robbery. At the time Davis made these statements to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, he knew they were false because he did not witness the robbery and the person Davis claimed was responsible never confessed to Davis.

If convicted of making false statements, Davis faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector-in-Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Detroit Division, made the announcement.

This case was a result of an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

INDIANAPOLIS- Marie Carson, 72, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

According to court documents, from 2008 to 2021, Carson illegally transferred approximately $573,836.59 from the business accounts of a Catholic church and related school in Indianapolis to her own personal bank accounts. During these thirteen years, Carson was employed at the parish as a business manager and was responsible for processing checks received from parishioners, conducting financial transactions on behalf of the church and school, and was the sole staff member in charge of managing the parish’s finances.

Carson’s scheme was exposed in November of 2021, when she was on leave from her position. Carson’s temporary replacement noticed suspicious transfers from the parish’s gaming account to an external bank account. Further investigation led to the location of over $289,000 in transfers to multiple accounts, including a phantom account created in the church’s name.

Carson was able to maintain the scheme by making false entries into the database used by the parish to track payments. A significant amount of money was used by Carson and her husband for casino gambling and an annual, month-long vacation to Florida.

The actual monetary loss is likely much higher, as Carson admitted to church officials that she began this scheme in 2004.

“For more than thirteen years, this defendant abused her position of trust to embezzle money from parishioners intended for a church and school,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Her greed and desire for lavish vacations outweighed her interest in following the dictates of our criminal laws and the teachings of her church, ‘thou shalt not steal.’ The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to those who might seek to steal, defraud, and embezzle: we will find you, you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable.”

“This scheme was fueled by pure greed. For more than a decade, the defendant abused the trust of the church and its parishioners to line her own pocket,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “While she may have benefited in the short term, in the end this perpetrator’s deception landed her behind bars. The FBI and our partners will continue to identify and investigate those who engage in these types of illegal schemes and hold them accountable.”

The FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Carson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following her release from federal prison and that she pay $573,836.59 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jonathan P. Colson, 52, of Frankfort, Indiana, was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child sex abuse material depicting prepubescent children.

According to court documents, from April 2018 to April 2020, Colson utilized the chat feature of the online gaming platform, Plato, to send sexually explicit messages describing child sex abuse material to another individual. During those online conversations, Colson bragged that he was molesting children in his family. Colson also distributed child sex abuse material to the individual. The individual contacted law enforcement. Law enforcement officers identified the user of the online gaming application as Colson and recovered the messages and images that Colson had sent and distributed to the individual using Plato.

On August 20, 2020, law enforcement officers searched Colson’s home pursuant to a federal search warrant, and recovered several devices used by Colson to download, distribute, and possess child sex abuse material. The images and videos that Colson distributed and possessed included depictions of children as young as 10 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

“Criminals like this defendant exploit the perceived anonymity of online gaming platforms to further their sexual interest in children,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Pedophiles who believe they can continue to trade horrific images of child sexual abuse online are sorely mistaken. The sentence imposed today shows that these offenders will be identified and will be removed from our communities.”

“While no amount of time in federal prison can undo the damage this predator did to his young victims, it should send a strong message to others who would engage in criminal sexual activity that the FBI and our partners will continue to pursue those who would victimize young children,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton.

The FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana State Police. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane M. Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Stinson ordered that Colson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and pay $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Colson must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.

In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

INDIANAPOLIS- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana has recovered $2,000,000 for taxpayers as part of a civil settlement with an Indiana autism therapy provider, ABA Programming Inc., Applied Behavior Center for Autism, and its owner, Sherry Michael (“ABCA”). ABCA is a provider of applied behavior analysis services for clients with autism throughout Indiana. The settlement will resolve allegations that ABCA submitted false claims to the TRICARE and Indiana Medicaid programs.

TRICARE is a health insurance system for members of the uniformed services and their families. It serves millions of beneficiaries, including many Hoosier families. Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It is jointly funded by federal and state governments.        

ABCA is a healthcare provider operating in multiple locations throughout the State of Indiana. It provides applied behavior analysis services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Sherry Michael is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ABCA.

According to a settlement agreement between the United States, the State of Indiana, and ABCA, the government maintained that ABCA submitted false claims to the government through several fraudulent billing schemes. These schemes included submitting upcoded, concurrent, and duplicate claims, claims for services not covered by TRICARE, and claims already paid by third-party sources.

Specifically, ABCA submitted claims to TRICARE and Medicaid for Analyst and Technician services rendered concurrently to the same patient, on the same date of service, upcoded claims for services rendered by Technicians, and submitted claims for group therapy services when the services were not covered by TRICARE. ABCA also submitted claims to Medicaid for group therapy services improperly billed as direct one-on-one provider therapy and claims already paid by third-party sources, namely TRICARE and the Indiana CareSource marketplace, without indicating to Medicaid that the claims had already been paid.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Defense – Office of the Inspector General (“DOD-OIG”), Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“Indiana MFCU”), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office. 

Based on the investigation, the estimated loss to the Medicaid program was $348,194.60 and the estimated loss to TRICARE was $626,795.90. ABCA has agreed to pay $2,000,000 to the United States and the State of Indiana to resolve the government’s allegations, which includes double damages and some of the government’s investigative costs. This settlement is the largest TRICARE settlement ever collected in the Southern District of Indiana.

“Waste, fraud, and abuse in healthcare claims wrongfully take funds intended to provide needed care to our military and Medicaid families,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Behavioral services providers must not exploit the needs of patients and families living with autism spectrum disorder to claim public funds to which they are not entitled. Our office is committed to working with our partners with the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to protect taxpayer money and ensure that providers comply with the law.”

“Health care providers who seek to defraud TRICARE and profit at the expense of patients under their care, particularly those with special needs, should be held fully accountable,” stated Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “Today’s settlement demonstrates the commitment of DCIS, along with our partners, to safeguard critical resources for the health and well-being of our military members, their families, and retirees, who deserve the best care available.”

“Behavioral analysis services for children, and other Medicaid beneficiaries, are of crucial importance to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our office is committed to working together with our law enforcement partners to hold those to account for fraud in these, and other, Federal health care programs.”

“These programs are designed to help our most vulnerable Hoosiers,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “Parents and families across the state rely on the aid of autism therapy providers to better care for their loved ones. By submitting false claims, the Applied Behavior Center for Autism deprived low-income families, disabled people, and pregnant mothers of adequate funding. We are fighting back to ensure taxpayers are protected and the Medicaid funds are being used to benefit those in need."

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Olson, who prosecuted this case.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. In agreeing to the settlement terms, ABCA denied all liability under the False Claims Act. In investigating the case, HHS-OIG, DOD-OIG, and MFCU did not uncover any evidence of injury or harm to patients as a result of the alleged conduct. 

INDIANAPOLIS- Five people have been convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in a nationwide fraud scheme that targeted senior citizens. Following a years-long investigation, each defendant pled guilty to mail fraud and money laundering charges. Investigators identified over 68 victims of the defendants’ crimes and identified losses totaling over $683,464. The federal court imposed the following sentences:

Defendant

Prison Sentence

Darlens Renard, 31

North Lauderdale, Florida

78 months

Jasaun Pope, 30

Valley Stream, New York

97 months

Princess Elizer, 30

Dallas, Georgia

41 months

Jennifer Glemeau, 28

Marietta Georgia

30 months

Kareem Brown, 30

North Baldwin, New York

36 months

According to court documents, from at least April 2020 and continuing for roughly 11 months, the defendants and other co-conspirators targeted and exploited the elderly and their relationships with their relatives for personal financial gain. Known as a “grandparent scam,” this criminal network exploited elderly Americans’ love for their family members making them believe a close relative was in extreme danger and inducing them to send thousands of dollars to “help.” 

 

The defendants’ role in the scheme was to retrieve, transport, and launder the money the elderly victims were induced to send. The defendants traveled to cities throughout the United States to identify unoccupied houses where overnight packages could be sent and retrieved without detection, and then relay those addresses to their co-conspirators. Those co-conspirators then placed phone calls to seniors in Indiana and around the country claiming that their grandchild or other relative had an urgent legal or medical problem and needed money immediately. The caller, who often claimed to be an attorney, police officer, or other authority figure, told the victim to send an overnight delivery of cash—typically between $5,000 and $15,000—to the address the defendants provided. The defendants tracked the overnight package of cash to the address, picked it up shortly after delivery, and then took their cut of the proceeds before sharing it with their co-conspirators. 

For example, according to court documents, one of the victims, age 82, from Crawfordsville, Indiana, was falsely told that her daughter had been in an accident and was in legal trouble because a gun was found in her vehicle. In addition to asking for money urgently, the caller allegedly told the victim that there was a “gag order” in her daughter’s case, to prevent the victim from contacting law enforcement or other family members. Concerned for her daughter’s welfare, the Crawfordsville victim sent a total of $12,500 in cash to the defendants.

Each defendant was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution to the victims for their roles in the scheme, and each was ordered to serve between one and three years of supervised release following their release from prison.

The Metro Drug Task Force, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The investigation was supported by the Baltimore Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and state and local law enforcement partners in Orleans, Massachusetts; Bartonville, Illinois; Starkville, Mississippi; New York, New York; Ossining, New York; Westchester County, New York; Delaware County, Ohio; Hermantown, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Sumter County, South Carolina; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Sumner County, Tennessee; Hurst, Texas; and Richmond, Virginia.

“These scams ruthlessly exploited older Americans and their concern for their loved ones,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Each of these defendants will have years in federal prison to reflect on how their scheme harmed the seniors they targeted. These sentences demonstrate the ongoing commitment of our office, and our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute these despicable elder fraud schemes.”

“These defendants and their co-conspirators preyed on the good nature of people.  The sentences in this case reinforce the justice system’s intolerance for people who take advantage of others”, said IRS-CI Chicago Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell.  “IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to working with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, local, and international levels to find and prosecute people who scam others out of their hard-earned money.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to investigating fraudulent imposter schemes designed to defraud innocent victims,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge, Detroit Division.  “Combating fraud schemes is a priority of the Postal Inspection Service given that a significant amount of the money in these frauds is sent through the United States mail.  We are actively taking steps to educate Americans about the dangers of frauds that target our elderly citizens.” 

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryAnn T. Mindrum and Nicholas J. Linder who prosecuted this case.

The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.  

This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves. 

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A Myers, announced today that Indy Jet Management, LLC and associated parties, Gary Aletto, GSA Investment, Inc., AirXL, LLC, Excel 2 LLC, Excel 3 LLC, Excel 4 LLC, CJI LLC, Indy Bravo LLC, Bradley Cable, and Citation Management LLC (“AirXL et al.”), have agreed to resolve allegations that they conducted illegal charter flights. 

The settlement resolves allegations that between March 2017 and February 2018, Indy Jet Management operated approximately 168 paid passenger-carrying flights in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) safety regulations.

The FAA recognizes two types of leases of aircraft: “wet leases,” in which a charter jet company provides an aircraft and crew, and “dry leases,” in which an aviation leasing company leases only an aircraft—and the lessee is responsible for obtaining its own pilots and services. The FAA requires charter jet companies that provide aircraft and crew to their customers through “wet leases” to obtain operating or air carrier certificates. These charter jet companies must also ensure their pilots adhere to certain qualification standards for training, testing, and competency.

The FAA alleges that the Indy Jet Management and its associated entities sold customers charter jet services under sham “dry leases” with one company to purportedly lease aircraft without any pilots or services provided. Customers then simultaneously entered into contracts for pilot services with another Indy Jet Management-related company. Together, the contracts served as a package deal to provide a piloted charter jet service while evading the FAA certification and pilot qualification regulations that apply to “wet leases.” The FAA further alleged that the parties used unqualified pilots who did not complete the training, testing, and competency checks that the FAA requires.

Under the terms of settlement agreement, AirXL et al. agreed that it no longer operates in the same manner and has paid a $187,500 civil penalty.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Rachana Fischer, who represented the United States in this case.

The claims resolved by this settlement are only allegations; there has been no determination of liability.

INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Rick Coley, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana and David Duggar, 40, of Greenwood, Indiana guilty on all counts following an eight-day trial. Coley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment for a felony. Duggar was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“These convictions further demonstrate the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to systematically target, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for pumping the most dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the work of all agencies involved in dismantling this operation to hold criminals accountable when they seek to exploit substance use disorder with no regard for those who are harmed or killed.”

“This sentencing is an example of a successful partnership between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to protect the mail system from being used for criminal purposes, such as drug transportation and trafficking”, said Detroit Division Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins. 

 

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between January and July 2021, Rick Coley and David Duggar, among other co-conspirators, distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Indianapolis for the ringleader of the operation, Jason Betts. The methamphetamine and fentanyl had been transported to Indianapolis from a source in California.

In July of 2021, federal agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed a large-scale takedown operation that led to the arrest of 17 individuals, with 2 individuals being fugitives. During the investigation, approximately 35 firearms, $70,000 in currency, 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of cocaine, and 30 pounds of marijuana were seized.

As of today, the other 18 defendants have been charged and pled guilty. 10 of the total 20 defendants are awaiting sentencing. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys, Bradley A. Blackington and Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon presided over the trial. Coley and Duggar will be sentenced at a later date. Both face up to life in federal prison. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

See related release here.

INDIANAPOLIS- Angel Montano, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for armed robbery.

According to documents and evidence presented in court, between July 19 and July 28 of 2020, Angel Montano and co-conspirators committed four armed robberies in the Indianapolis area, one of which resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man. Montano facilitated and orchestrated the armed robberies through the online marketplaces, OfferUp and LetGo, by luring victims to his location to purchase a cell phone that he had listed for sale.

In the first three robberies, Montano and his co-conspirators arranged to sell an iPhone 11 Max Pro for $800 to a buyer who contacted him through the online marketplaces. When the victims arrived at the Pepper Mill Apartment complex, Montano and others brandished firearms and demanded money. In one incident, the victim drove to the address with her two children—ages 13 and 8—to purchase the phone. When she arrived at the meet location, Montano approached her vehicle, reached inside, placed the muzzle of his firearm against her thigh, and demanded “everything.” The woman gave Montano her iPhone, as well as the iPhone and Apple Air Pods that belonged to one of her children.

In the final robbery that resulted in Montano executing a 26-year-old man, the victim met Montano at a different Indianapolis residence, but was spooked by three masked men who approached his vehicle. The victim stated he would pay for the phone via PayPal and offered to drive to the nearest Wal-Mart to purchase a PayPal card to complete the transaction. The victim did not return. Later that evening, the victim decided to get cash and complete the purchase with Montano but asked his brother to accompany him due to fear of safety. When the two arrived at the transaction location, Montano prevented them from leaving by blocking their vehicle with his truck, tapped his firearm muzzle on the window of their vehicle, and fired multiple shots, striking both victims and killing the brother. The surviving brother required surgery and spent several days in the hospital healing from multiple gunshot wounds.

“The defendant’s crime spree demonstrated his utter disregard for human life. His choice to engage in senseless violence took an innocent man from his loving family forever,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “A sentence of four decades in federal prison will protect the public from this murderous criminal and brings some measure of justice to the victims. Reducing gun violence is a top priority for our office, and we will continue to use our federal resources to hold violent offenders accountable.”

The FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Montano be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

INDIANAPOLIS- Robert Ficzner, 27, of Fishers, Indiana has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from Omegle, a one-on-one random video chat application, that Robert Ficzner had displayed an image of a naked, prepubescent 5-year-old to other Omegle users. In March of 2022, Ficzner was approached by investigators and admitted that he showed the sexually explicit images of the child to elicit a “reaction” from other Omegle users. Additionally, Ficzner admitted to receiving and sharing child sexual abuse material via the Kik and Telegram instant messaging applications.

When investigators searched Ficzner’s cell phone, they found multiple files containing child sexual abuse material, as well as conversations between Ficzner and other participants discussing their desires and plans to kidnap and sexually abuse children.

Ficzner’s collection of child sexual abuse material contained well over 600 images and included depictions of the sexual abuse and torture of infants and toddlers, as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.

“Civilized society will not tolerate the trafficking of images of the sexual torture of babies and toddlers,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Even worse, this defendant discussed his desires and plans to kidnap and sexually abuse children with likeminded offenders online. The serious sentence imposed here demonstrates that federal, state, and local law enforcement will root out those criminals who pose a danger to our children, prosecute them, and get them off our streets.”

“This sentencing shows just how damaging Ficzner’s crimes against children are and emphasizes HSI’s dedication to hold perpetrators accountable,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago area of operations Sean Fitzgerald. “We, alongside our law enforcement partners, are committed to keeping the most vulnerable of our communities safe. Child predators like Ficzner cannot escape justice and there will be serious consequences for their heinous actions.”

Homeland Security Investigations, the Hamilton County Metropolitan Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Ficzner be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison and pay $8,000 in restitution to the victims. Ficzner must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

EVANSVILLE- Brandon Kyle Meredith Adcox, 39, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on August 30, 2021, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and a detective with the Evansville Police Department (EPD) received a CyberTip stating that between June 10 and June 15, 2021, 36 files containing child sexual abuse material had been uploaded and distributed using Kik Messenger, an instant messaging app.

Kik provided investigators with the email address associated with the account. The email address associated with the Kik account was registered in Adcox’s name, and records indicated the account was accessed from the Evansville apartment complex where Adcox lived. EPD officers obtained and executed a warrant to search Adcox’s residence. During execution of the warrant, Adcox agreed to answer questions and provide the passcode to his iPhone. Adcox confirmed that he was the owner of the email and Kik accounts and admitted to distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material via Kik on several occasions. He also admitted that several images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material would be found on his cell phone.

Upon investigation of the files, detectives found child sexual abuse material, including a video of an adult female performing oral sex on an infant than one year old.

“Criminals like this defendant use online platforms to share child sexual abuse materials and seek affirmation from others who share their sexual interest in children,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The dangerous predators who traffic in images of these horrific crimes re-victimize children for their own pleasure—and should take note of the sentence imposed today. The outstanding investigators and analysts at the Indiana ICAC, FBI, and EPD, will identify you and make our children safer by sending you to federal prison.”

“Those who sexually exploit children in this manner cause great harm to their young victims and deserve a strong punishment,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting children from offenders like him and will do everything we can to ensure such defendants are identified, investigated and prosecuted.”

The FBI and ICAC investigated this case with valuable assistance from the Evansville Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Adcox be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Adcox must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.

In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

INDIANAPOLIS- Dylan Ostrum, 29, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. Ostrum was convicted on all charged counts at the conclusion of a three-day jury trial.

According to court documents, from August 2020 to February 2021, Dylan Ostrum conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana in Indianapolis, Indiana. On February 3, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Ostrum’s Indianapolis residence, where they arrested Ostrum. Ostrum admitted to his involvement in drug trafficking but acknowledged that he had removed all contraband from his home after a trafficking associate had been arrested the previous week. Investigators later located Ostrum’s vehicle at a coconspirator’s residence and recovered a loaded 9mm pistol, an extended magazine, 513 grams of actual methamphetamine, marijuana, and a digital scale.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

At the time of his arrest, Ostrum was on home detention after a previous felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine in Madison County, Indiana. Ostrum is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his multiple previous felony convictions, including burglary and drug possession.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Ostrum be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney’s Bradley A. Blackington and Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Brian Fenner, 47, of Indianapolis and Dennis Birkley, 63, of Wisconsin, guilty on all charges following a six-day trial. The two men were each convicted of one count of conspiracy, fourteen counts of fraud, and three counts of money laundering.

“These defendants engaged in a brazen and long running fraud scheme, illegally enriching themselves at the expense of financially distressed individuals and their lenders,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These fraudsters repeatedly lied and created false documents to exploit Indiana regulators and the bankruptcy process. Complex  economic crimes are a federal prosecution priority, and these convictions demonstrate that those who choose to engage in these schemes will be held accountable.”

“Those who prey on consumers in financial distress, cause great harm to the lenders, and abuse the bankruptcy process to carry out their fraudulent activities across the nation strike at the very core of the integrity of the bankruptcy system and will not be tolerated,” stated Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and Southern and Central Illinois (Region 10). “We appreciate the commitment of U.S. Attorney Myers and our law enforcement partners to holding those who abuse the bankruptcy system accountable, as well as the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and our law enforcement partners who helped bring these defendants to justice.”

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between 2013 and 2016, Fenner promoted the “Sperro free bankruptcy program” nationwide to financially distressed people who owed more in car loans than their cars were worth. Through this purported “free bankruptcy program,” Fenner promised to pay the debtors’ bankruptcy attorneys’ fees if they turned over their vehicles to him. Numerous people from across the country signed on with the program and surrendered their vehicles to Fenner, including from as far away as California and Arizona. Fenner arranged for the debtors’ cars to be towed to his lots in Indianapolis for outlandish fees.

Indiana law required towing and storage companies to hold auctions to sell vehicles to satisfy unpaid debts and give the auto loan holders any proceeds of the sale exceeding the towing and storage fees. Fenner then pretended to “sell” the cars at “auctions” to cover the exorbitant towing and storage “fees.” These fraudulent auctions were part of a series of fraudulent documents and lies submitted to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which resulted in the “buyer” receiving a free-and-clear car title from the BMV. Birkley and his company, AMI Asset Management, were the successful bidders for all 100 vehicles obtained by Fenner from debtors. Birkley falsely claimed to have paid Fenner the exact amount Fenner claimed he was owed for towing and storage fees, leaving nothing to satisfy the lien of the lenders or return to the individuals. In fact, Birkley and Fenner were engaged in the scheme together, and Birkley did not pay Fenner anything for the cars to which Birkley fraudulently obtained title.

Instead, once Birkley received vehicles with titles clear of liens from banks or anyone else, he sold the vehicles, sometimes at a real public auction, and often received thousands of dollars in profit, which he split with Fenner. Birkley and Fenner illegally obtained over $1 million through their fraud. In the end, the scheme left the financially distressed individuals with no vehicles but still with the vehicle loan debt, which they were often unable to discharge in bankruptcy. 

The charges resulted, in part, from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Indiana State Police, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program, in collaboration with the Southern Indiana Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate E. Olivier and Bradley P. Shepard, who prosecuted this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young presided over the trial and ordered that Fenner and Birkley be sentenced in early May of 2023. Both face up to 20 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.

See related prior release Here.

INDIANAPOLIS- Jacob Magness, 23, of Bloomington, Indiana, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession and distribution of fentanyl and other controlled substances

.

According to court documents, on November 1, 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was alerted to a suspicious package with a nonexistent return address coming from California. The package was addressed to Jacob Magness’s Bloomington residence. On November 2, 2021, Indiana State Police examined the package and found it to contain approximately 211 grams of fentanyl pills, 110 grams of counterfeit Xanax pills, and 4 grams of LSD gel. Magness ordered and tracked the drugs via Snapchat.

On November 3, 2021, Bloomington Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Magness’s Bloomington residence. Officers located $2,251 in cash, approximately 20 fentanyl pills, approximately 13 ecstasy pills, approximately 5 grams of cocaine, 11 firearms, and multiple high-capacity magazines.

“Fentanyl traffickers value profits far more than the lives they are putting in danger,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “They will use any means necessary, including the U.S. Postal Service, to satisfy their greed and exploit substance abuse. I commend the work of the USPIS, ISP, and the Bloomington PD in curtailing this defendant and saving lives in the process.”

“What we have here today is a perfect example of what happens when different law enforcement agencies pool their resources and expertise to achieve a common goal to protect the citizens of Indiana from the illegal and dangerous drugs. It is our duty as postal inspectors to go after those individuals who attempt to ship illicit drugs through the US Mail. Our goal to protect the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse was achieved through our partnership with Indiana State Police and Bloomington Police Department.” Rodney M Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge, Detroit Division.

USPIS investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Bloomington Police Department and ISP. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Magness be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison. Additionally, Magness is subject to a $500.00 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs.  Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap.  Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage.  Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.  Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax.  For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors.  They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.  Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Michael Ingram, 43, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Children, and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Cameron Helm, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was also sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy Sexually Exploit Children and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

According to court documents, in March 2020, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) began investigating Ingram after receiving a CyberTip from an email provider. Further investigation revealed that the owner of this email account sent child sex abuse material to Ingram’s email account. Investigators were able to tie the account to Ingram’s Indianapolis residence and obtained a warrant to search for evidence of crimes. 

Members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force executed the warrant and recovered Ingram’s iPhone and iPad. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that Ingram had produced, distributed, and possessed child sex abuse material. 

In addition, over 1,600 text messages were located on the devices between Ingram and Helm, from February 7, 2018, to October 2020. In these texts, Ingram and Helm conspire to sexually exploit a child and graphically describe potential sex acts with children. At Helm’s direction, Ingram took photos of himself sexually assaulting a child. Ingram distributed that child sex abuse material to Helm, and Helm distributed other child sex abuse material to Ingram in return.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

“These criminals gleefully reveled in the dark sewer of child exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “They placed their own sexual gratification above the autonomy, dignity, and safety of a vulnerable child. The serious sentences imposed here demonstrate that these horrific abuses are unacceptable in civilized society. Indiana’s renowned Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including our office and IMPD, will continue to work relentlessly to keep children safe and hold abusers accountable.”

ICAC and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Ingram be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life and Helm be supervised for 15 years following their release from federal prison. Ingram and Helm must also register as sex offenders wherever they live, work, or go to school, as required by law. Additionally, Helm must pay $10,000 in restitution to the child victims and has been fined $10,000 pursuant the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle M. Sawa who prosecuted the case.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.

In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

INDIANAPOLIS- Carlton Chaney Jr., 27, of Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on September 21, 2022, agents with the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force were conducting an investigation at a residence near Irvington when Carlton Chaney exited the front door of the residence with a handgun in his waistband and drove away. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers pulled Chaney over on I-465 and recovered the handgun previously seen in Chaney’s waistband.

Chaney is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions including a federal conviction for commercial robbery, and state convictions for battery with a deadly weapon, illegal gun possession, and resisting law enforcement. Chaney was also the subject of multiple domestic violence-related protective orders.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Armed domestic abusers pose a serious threat to those closest to them, law enforcement officers, and public safety in general,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Many illegally armed perpetrators of gun violence in the home and mass shootings in public have a prior history of committing domestic violence. That’s why our office is working together with IMPD and the FBI, through the LEATH initiative, to protect the public from these offenders and save lives.”

The FBI investigated this case with the valuable assistance of the IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Chaney be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Chaney must pay a $900.00 fine and forfeit the handgun.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was also brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.

INDIANAPOLIS- Dontell Anderson, 37, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on July 29, 2021, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers executed a search warrant at Dontell Anderson’s northeast Indianapolis residence. During a search of the home, officers found methamphetamine, pills, synthetic marijuana, and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.

Anderson is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his previous felony convictions, including battery resulting in injury, dealing cocaine or a narcotic drug, possession of methamphetamine, and a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Anderson was still under court supervision following his release from federal prison when he was again arrested for illegal gun possession.

“Illegally armed, repeat felons drive the gun violence plaguing our state,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the response by IMPD and the work of ATF to protect the public from this dangerous criminal. The sentence imposed by the court demonstrates that those who illegally possess firearms risk serious federal time. Returning to prison isn’t worth it—put down the guns, or we will hold you accountable.”

ATF and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Anderson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

INDIANAPOLIS- Jared Mashburn, 40, of Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, on December 14, 2020, Mashburn was arrested in Indianapolis by Indiana State Police Troopers on an outstanding Putnam County warrant. Mashburn was wanted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, resisting law enforcement, and possessing methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, troopers searched Mashburn’s person and located two loaded handguns, approximately 22 grams of methamphetamine packaged in bags for resale, and approximately $12,000 in cash.

Later that same day, troopers executed a warrant to search Mashburn’s residence. Investigators located and seized 38 firearms, approximately 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, a vacuum sealer, and a drug ledger. Investigators also seized items associated with the Aryan Brotherhood, of which Mashburn was a known member, including a jersey with Aryan Brotherhood insignia and a Nazi flag, uniform, and other Nazi paraphernalia. The Aryan Brotherhood is a notorious white supremacist group with affiliated gangs in many prisons.

At the time of this arrest, Mashburn had been previously convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine and having an illegal drug lab. Mashburn was prohibited from owning firearms under federal law due to his previous felony convictions.

“This heavily armed meth dealer and gang member is exactly the sort of dangerous criminal we must prioritize for federal prosecution,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Repeat felons who menace the public with illegal guns and poison our families with deadly drugs will face the sorts of serious consequences imposed by the court today. I commend the efforts of the FBI and Indiana State Police to protect the public by ensuring that the defendant will spend years in federal prison and off our streets.”

“The sentence imposed today clearly demonstrates that those who use firearms in furtherance of their illegal activities will be held accountable and removed from our communities so they can no longer pose a risk,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods and keep firearms out of the hands of those prohibited from being able to possess them.”

The Indiana State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Mashburn be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney, Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS- Desmond Breaziel, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 7, 2022, Lawrence Police Department (LPD) officers responded to a report of two men passed out in a parked Ford Explorer at a Waffle House parking lot. The driver, Desmond Breaziel, was unresponsive upon the officers’ arrival. When Breaziel woke up and exited the vehicle, he appeared confused and disoriented. Officers found a loaded Taurus .38 caliber handgun and approximately 81 pills containing methamphetamine on Breaziel’s person. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a fanny pack containing marijuana and a digital scale.

Breaziel is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his previous felony convictions, including dealing narcotics and a prior federal conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Breaziel was still under court supervision following his release from federal prison when he was again arrested for illegal gun possession.

“Illegally armed felons and drug dealers help drive the gun violence plaguing our families and neighbors,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the quick response by the Lawrence Police Department and the work of ATF to protect the public from this criminal. The serious sentence imposed today is a message to others who are legally barred from possessing firearms: put down the guns or you risk federal prison time.”

“The Lawrence Police Department thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana and U.S. Attorney Zachary Myers, along with our law enforcement partners at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives for focusing federal resources on holding armed felons accountable,” said Chief Gary Woodruff of the Lawrence Police Department. “These federal, state, and local agency collaborations leading to convictions result in a safer central Indiana for all Hoosiers to enjoy.”

ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by LPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Breaziel be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Abhishek Kambli and Samantha Spiro, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS –Patrick Owens, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on April 12, 2019, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer initiated a traffic stop on Patrick Owens as he was heading northbound on Binford Boulevard in Indianapolis. When asked for a driver’s license, Owens told the officer that he did not have one. The officer asked Owens if there were any weapons in the vehicle and Owens indicated that there were none. Owens then flipped open the center armrest, exposing the bottom of an extended handgun magazine. The officer commanded Owens to remove his hands from the steering wheel, and in response Owens started the car and sped away.

Owns led officers on a high-speed pursuit on I-65 and I-465, where he fishtailed across three lanes and struck an Infinity SUV. Owens continued his flight after the collision, reaching speeds of over 86 miles per hour. He exited I-465 at Keystone Avenue and proceeded onto a construction-filled 96th street. Owens swerved to go through the construction site, but lost control of the vehicle and hit a power pole. Owens then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot, initially holding the extended handgun magazine from his vehicle before tossing it on the ground as he ran.

IMPD officers caught up with Owens and took him into custody and recovered the extended magazine, which was loaded with 25 live rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Officers located a loaded semiautomatic handgun in Owens’ car, as well as marijuana, $21,300 in cash, and two additional loaded .40 caliber magazines. Owens is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his previous felony convictions, including resisting law enforcement, carrying a handgun without a license, and burglary.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentenced was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Owens be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Owens was also ordered to pay $6,778 in restitution to the owner of the Infinity SUV and the insurance company.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is issuing a national public safety alert regarding an explosion in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for additional explicit material or money—a crime known as sextortion.

Over the past year, law enforcement agencies have received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys. More than a dozen sextortion victims were reported to have died by suicide. The FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners implore parents and caregivers to engage with their kids about sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place.

Sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable—using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. On these platforms, predators often use fake accounts and target minors.

Through deception, sextortionists convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they often threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends additional sexually explicit material. Some of these criminals demand money or gift cards to keep them from releasing the compromising material in their possession. Often, these predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications. In many cases, however, sextortionists release the images even if additional material is sent or payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse and may drive them towards self-harm.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted several “sextortion” related cases in recent years, including the following:

United States v. Kyle Peterson:  Between March of 2020 and March of 2021, Kyle Peterson persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Beginning on March 20, 2020, Peterson used the social media platforms Omegle and Snapchat to contact minors, including Victim 1. Victim 1 was twelve years old at the time of contact with Peterson. Knowing the victim was a child, Peterson began to groom her by sending her sexually explicit images and videos online. The material Peterson distributed to Victim 1 included an image depicting sadomasochistic behavior and images and videos depicting sexual abuse of animals.

Peterson engaged in sexually explicit video chats with the child and instructed her to send him sexually explicit videos of herself. When Victim 1 stopped complying with Peterson’s continuous demands, he began threatening to disseminate her sexually explicit images and videos to her family and friends and post them on the Internet.

Peterson was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in federal prison in December 2022.

United States v. Buster Hernandez:  In August 2017, Buster Hernandez was initially charged with sexually exploiting a minor, threatening to use an explosive device, and threatening to kill, kidnap, or injure another person. Those charges eventually extended to include 41 separate allegations including: production of child sexual abuse materials, coercion and enticement of minors, receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, the threatened use of explosive devices, extortion, threats to kill, kidnap or injure other persons, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and retaliation against a victim. The offense conduct included the actual or attempted sextortion of at least 375 victims including those from two foreign countries, threats to kill, rape, and kidnap hundreds, and threats to use explosive devices against Plainfield and Danville High Schools, the Shops at Perry Crossing, and a local Walmart.

Hernandez also sexually exploited and threatened several other minor victims in Hendricks County and other cities in Indiana. When victims stopped complying with his demands, he posted sexually explicit images and videos that the victim had sent against their will and often threatened to kill them and their families. 

Hernandez was convicted and sentenced to 75 years in federal prison in March 2021.

“Sexual exploitation of children is a despicable crime that may go unrecognized by friends and family of the victims. In this digital age, it is imperative that we stay informed of the deception and other tactics sexual predators use to harm our children,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Victims of sextortion may feel confused, embarrassed, and as if there is no escape. I strongly urge parents and caregivers to engage with the children in their lives to discuss this crime and help law enforcement agencies prevent the abuse before it happens.”

What if you or your child are a victim?

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:

• Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
• Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.
• Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.
• Visit missingkids.org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit cybertipline.org to report to us for help with the process.
• Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.
• If you don’t feel that you have adults in your corner, you can reach out to NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Take a moment to learn how sextortion works and how to talk to your children about it. Information, resources, and conversation guides are available at fbi.gov/StopSextortion.

INDIANAPOLIS- Austin Majko, 33, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 23, 2021, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to a 911 call on the west side of Indianapolis. A man, who was later identified as Austin Majko, fired multiple shots at a vehicle recovery agent who was attempting to repossess Majko’s 2013 Ford Focus. The victim told officers that as he was leaving with the Focus, Majko ran toward him and fired multiple shots at the vehicle. Four .40 caliber casings were found at the scene.

Later that day, IMPD officers responded to a domestic violence call in the same neighborhood. When officers arrived, a witness stated that they saw Majko hit a female in the street and pull a gun from his waist band. Officers found Majko sitting next to two toolboxes in his garage. Multiple guns, including a .40 caliber handgun, were located inside the toolboxes.

Majko is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his previous felony convictions, including two convictions for robbery resulting in bodily injury.

“A gun can turn domestic abuse deadly in a matter of seconds,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Research shows that armed domestic abusers pose a profound risk to the safety of those closest to them and to the public at large. Our office, together with IMPD and ATF, will continue to prioritize the LEATH initiative to save the lives of those impacted by domestic violence.”

“It unfortunately bears repeating that we all deserve to be safest in our homes, but for too many that is not the case,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute domestic abusers who possess firearms to ensure our communities are safe from these offenders.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Majko be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

INDIANAPOLIS- Eugene Theard, 45, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and possessing five firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, on May 11, 2021, Eugene Theard became a target of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation after he sold 221 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine to another individual for $2,300.

On June 3, 2021, Theard made a deal to sell another 111 grams of methamphetamine for $1,400. At the time of this transaction, Theard was on parole for domestic battery and failure to return to lawful detention. Following the June 3 drug deal, parole agents with the Indiana Department of Correction conducted a compliance visit at Theard’s motel room in Indianapolis. The parole agents found 382 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms. Theard admitted to DEA agents that he intended to sell the drugs and possessed the guns to protect his drugs and profits.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Armed trafficking of deadly drugs drives violence and fuels substance use disorders,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These crimes are even more unacceptable when committed by a felon who is still on parole, and clearly has not learned his lesson. I commend the outstanding work of the DEA, IMPD, ATF, and IDOC to take deadly drugs, deadly weapons, and another dangerous trafficker off our streets.”

DEA investigated this case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indiana Department of Correction provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Theard be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

TERRE HAUTE- Emmanuel Dareon Jones, 30, of Terre Haute, Indiana was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 24, 2018, Jones sold approximately 4.5 grams of cocaine for $250.00. On September 19, 2018, Jones was pulled over by law enforcement officers after they saw him exit his residence and leave in his car. Officers found $12,620 on Jones’ person during the stop.

At the time of the traffic stop, Jones was on probation and had been previously convicted of four felonies related to possessing and dealing marijuana. The prior felony convictions prohibited Jones from ever owning a firearm. Jones’ residence was searched pursuant to the conditions of his probation waiver.

During the search of Jones’ residence, officers located a loaded pistol, a vacuum seal machine with a sealed bag containing a large amount of loose marijuana, a digital scale, and several bulk packaging materials in the kitchen. In the bedroom, officers found a box of multiple, vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, a tactical, 12-gauge shotgun, an assault style rife with a 30-round magazine, and a safe containing two Crown Royal bags full of $100 bills, as well as other stacks of $100 bills. Jones stated that each Crown Royal bag contained $50,000. Investigators seized a total of $134,500 and approximately six pounds of marijuana from Jones’ vehicle and home.

In a recorded interview with Terre Haute Police Department Officers, Jones admitted to selling marijuana for $125.00 per ounce. Jones confirmed that all marijuana and guns found during the searches belonged to him and was able to list descriptions of each gun.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

“Multiple felony convictions did not deter the defendant from continuing to deal drugs and illegally arm himself, including possessing an assault rifle with an extended magazine—even while on probation,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed today demonstrates that law enforcement agencies will work to keep the public safe through prosecution of armed drug dealers. We are grateful to the Terre Haute Police Department and ATF for their work in getting these drugs and guns off the street and out of our communities.”

The Terre Haute Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Jones be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS- Larry Shaw, 49, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse materials.

According to court documents, in 2007, the Indiana State Police began an investigation into known videos and files of child sexual abuse material being traded via Gnutella. Gnutella was a peer-to-peer network that allowed users to share files across the internet without using a central server. Larry Shaw was identified as one of several targets of the investigation.

On March 19, 2007, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shaw’s residence. During an interview with officers, Shaw admitted to downloading child sexual abuse materials using peer-to-peer networks and storing them on his computer. Forensic examination of the computer found 177 video files depicting prepubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults, including violent masochistic conduct, and depictions of rapes of children.

On May 2, 2007, Shaw, his legal counsel, and federal prosecutors met to discuss a pre-indictment resolution of the case. Shaw requested to think about the offer over the weekend, and the government agreed. On May 5 or 6, 2007, Shaw had fled the United States on an AirChina flight to Beijing. Shaw was apprehended and arrested nearly 14 years later in October of 2021 after he attempted to re-enter the United States in Chicago.

“Not only did Mr. Shaw trade abhorrent images and videos of children being sexually violated and tortured, but he also sought to evade the consequences of his actions for over 14 years,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The successful arrest and prosecution of this defendant demonstrates that our Office, HSI, and IMPD will work to bring criminals to justice no matter how long it takes. The serious sentence imposed today demonstrates that those who seek gratification from the horrific abuse of the most vulnerable will be held accountable.”

“Possessing and viewing child exploitation material revictimizes children each time it is downloaded or shared. Our agents and partners are profoundly committed to investigating these crimes and going after the perpetrators,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge R. Sean Fitzgerald. “We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and investigate offenders like Shaw in our communities and ensure they pay for their crimes against children.”

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with the valuable assistance of IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Shaw be supervised by the U.S. Probation office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Shaw must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law. 

U.S. Attorney Myers thanks Assistant United States Attorney Kate E. Olivier, who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

NEW ALBANY- Dara Little, 35, of Mitchell, Indiana, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of wire fraud.

According to court documents, in May of 2014, Dara Little was hired as the Executive Director of Nursing at a senior living facility in Bedford, Indiana. As part of her role, Little had access to a web-based platform used to submit business expense reimbursement requests. In January of 2016, Little was fired for timesheet fraud and theft of prescription medicine, however her access to the reimbursement request platform was not immediately disabled.

In January 2016, after she was fired, Little submitted 24 expense reimbursement requests totaling more than $58,770. The reimbursement requests contained forged and falsified receipts that had no connection to Little’s employment at the senior living facility. For example, Little submitted a receipt for $3,923.00 worth of “small furniture purchases” purportedly made at an Ashley Furniture location in Cincinnati that does not actually exist. Little continued to make reimbursement requests for expenses such as dishwasher maintenance, locksmith services, iPads, and baby strollers for five months after her termination. Little’s expense reimbursement request account was deactivated in September 2016.

The day after Little’s access to the expense reimbursement request was terminated, Little began using another employee’s account to submit more fraudulent reimbursement requests. As she did with her own account, Little submitted requests that contained forged and falsified receipts. Between September 2016 and March 2021, Little submitted 172 fraudulent reimbursement requests using the other employee’s account and, as a result, received more than $173,900 in payments from her former employer to which she was not entitled. The fraudulent requests she submitted included receipts from a Nando’s Chicken in England, a California Shoe Store, and for a cheerleading uniform. The receipt picture that Little used from Nando’s Chicken went viral in 2013 after it was posted online and was identified as belonging to the singer, Beyonce. 

In October 2017, Little also began to use yet another employee’s account to submit fraudulent reimbursement requests to her former employer that contained forged and falsified receipts. Between October 2017 and March 2021, Little submitted 155 additional fraudulent reimbursement requests with the second employee’s account and, as a result, received more than $161,000 in payments to which she was not entitled. The fraudulent requests she submitted included the same receipt from Nando’s Chicken over 58 times, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Men’s Wearhouse, and for a Kid’s First Chemistry Set.

Investigators searched Little’s cell phone and found a note in which she admitted to stealing over $400,000 from her former employer over the course of five years, how the money was stolen, and what personal expenses the stolen funds paid for. 

Little stole a total of more than $419,542 from her former employer.

“For over five years, the defendant repeatedly defrauded her former employer through lies and forged documents,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office will continue to prioritize prosecutions of fraud schemes that have lasting impacts on businesses and individuals. I commend the work of the FBI and prosecutors in our office to untangle this long string of embezzlement, proving once again that those who chose to violate the law in service of their greed will be held accountable for their crimes.”

“Ms. Little intentionally sought to personally benefit by diverting funds that were not her own to line her own pocket. This sentence should send a clear message to others who might consider doing the same,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to identify and investigate those who choose to enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Little be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison. Little has also been ordered to pay the full amount of $419,542.45 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kate Olivier, who prosecuted this case.

NEW ALBANY- Kevin Smyzer, Jr., 33, and Dyronne Mason, 39, of Louisville, Kentucky, have been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Smyzer was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison. Mason was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on September 19, 2022.

According to court documents, on March 25, 2020, Indiana State Police (ISP) stopped a vehicle for speeding in Clark County, Indiana. The driver of the vehicle was identified at Kevin Smyzer and the passenger was identified as Dyronne Mason.

During the traffic stop, an ISP drug detection K9 indicated the odor of narcotics on the passenger side door. Troopers located eleven golf-ball sized bags containing fentanyl. In the back seat, Troopers found a cardboard box containing half a kilogram of fentanyl. The roof of the vehicle had a brown ledger with names and amounts of money written in it.

In an interview with law enforcement officers, Smyzer admitted to visiting Indianapolis to obtain the controlled substances for redistribution. In total, Smyzer and Mason were transporting over 600 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.

“Fentanyl traffickers value their profits more than the lives of our families and neighbors,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We must fight to save lives by investigating and prosecuting criminals who exploit the epidemic of substance use disorder to satisfy their own greed. Our office, the DEA, and the Indiana State Police are committed to holding fentanyl traffickers accountable for pushing deadly poison on our streets.”

“Our Troopers work diligently every day, often putting themselves in harm’s way to curtail or stop the trafficking of illicit drugs on Indiana highways,” said Lieutenant Christopher Keeton, Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post. “We are very grateful for the work and effort the DEA and U.S. Attorney’s Office put forth to ensure justice was served in this case.”

The DEA-Louisville Division investigated this case with valuable assistance from ISP. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Smyzer and Mason be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following their release from federal prison. Smyzer was also given a $500 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs.  Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap.  Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage.  Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.  Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax.  For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors.  They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.  Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. 

INDIANAPOLIS – A former sergeant with the Muncie Police Department (MPD), in Muncie, Indiana, pleaded guilty today to one count of obstruction of justice for writing a false report to cover up the excessive use of force by other MPD officers under his command. 

According to court documents and statements made during the change of plea hearing, on or about August 9, 2018, Joseph Krejsa, 52, responded to the scene of an arrest involving a civilian with the initials L.G. Before he arrived on the scene, other MPD officers under his supervision – including Officer Chase Winkle, the son of the then-Chief of Police – had used excessive force against L.G., resulting in serious injury to L.G.’s face. The day after the arrest, Krejsa conducted a supervisory review of the incident, during which he noted that he had watched the videos of the incident and falsely deemed those uses of force “justified.”

Several days later, on or about August 13 and August 14, 2018, the captain of MPD’s patrol division tasked Krejsa with conducting a more in-depth review of the officers’ uses of force during L.G.’s arrest, which was separate from the typical shift sergeant review. In response to this request, Krejsa watched the involved-officers’ body worn camera videos, which revealed what had happened during the arrest: Two officers under his supervision, Chase Winkle and Corey Posey, approached L.G. in an alley way and gave several verbal commands to L.G. – including to put his hands on his head and to get on the ground – and L.G. complied with those commands. On the ground, as Posey held both of L.G.’s hands behind his back, L.G. directed a verbal insult towards officers, and in response, Winkle lifted his left knee, and, using his knee, dropped his bodyweight down onto L.G.’s neck and head area. L.G. screamed out words to the effect of, “He crushed my whole face!” and pulled his hands towards his face. Winkle then tased L.G., as other MPD officers, including Officer Jeremy Gibson, arrived to assist. Toward the end of the incident, officers secured one of L.G.’s hands in handcuffs, lifted him up to a seated position, and Gibson delivered two forceful knee strikes directly to L.G.’s face. 

After reviewing the officers’ body camera videos, Krejsa knowingly authored a lengthy memorandum for MPD’s official records that contained several false statements. Specifically, Krejsa falsely implied that any force used against L.G. was justified to ensure officer safety; falsely asserted that officers used only low levels of force near the start of the incident, and escalated to higher levels of force only after lower levels of force were ineffective; falsely stated that Winkle “kneeled on [L.G.]’s left shoulder and upper body,” when in fact he knew that Winkle had used his knee to strike L.G.’s head and neck area; and falsely implied that Winkle’s uses of force against L.G. caused only cuts to L.G.’s face, when he knew that the use of force against L.G. caused serious bodily injury to L.G. As part of his plea, Krejsa admitted that he knew, when he wrote the false report, that the inaccuracies and material omissions in his report were intended to influence any potential investigation into the incident. 

Krejsa is the fourth Muncie Police Department official to plead guilty in connection with this investigation. Krejsa was one of four MPD officers who were indicted in April 2021 in a 17-count superseding indictment for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and/or attempting to cover up the misconduct. A fifth Muncie police officer, Dalton Kurtz, previously entered a pre-indictment guilty plea on August 4, 2021, to one count of misprision of felony for concealing and failing to report inappropriate use of force by Winkle during a separate incident.  

On May 13, 2022, Gibson also pleaded guilty to civil rights and obstruction charges for assaulting a different arrestee and writing a false report about the incident. On December 5, 2022, Winkle pleaded guilty to eleven counts of civil rights and obstruction offenses for assaulting arrestees and writing false reports about the incidents, including the arrest of L.G. The last remaining officer is scheduled to stand trial at a later date. 

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana, and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement. 

The FBI Indianapolis conducted the investigation. 

Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.

INDIANAPOLIS- Frank Nelson, 45, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, on August 24, 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials executed a search warrant at Frank Nelson’s Indianapolis residence for financial documents in connection to an ongoing drug trafficking and money laundering investigation. Nelson was taken into custody upon opening the door for investigators.

During a search of Nelson’s home, officers located a black Puma backpack in the laundry room that contained several clear plastic bags of white powder and brown chunky substances. Shortly after this discovery, law enforcement officers obtained a second search warrant for the same residence to search for narcotics and other instrumentalities. The Puma backpack was searched and found to contain approximately 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, and half a kilogram of heroin. According to the DEA, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.

In searching Nelson’s master bedroom, agents located a 9mm semiautomatic pistol in a nightstand and a semiautomatic rifle under the bed. Agents also located $90,310 in United States currency. Inside Nelson’s bedroom closet, agents located a black Nike duffle bag containing 16 taped, brick-shaped objects (approximately 1 kilogram each) filled with cocaine. 

In his guilty plea, Nelson admitted that the seized substances contained fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and that he possessed the drugs with the intent to sell them.

At the time of his arrest, Nelson was on bond after being charged in 2020 with dealing cocaine in Hendricks County, Indiana.

“We may never know exactly how many lives this defendant is responsible for ruining to satisfy his greed,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Substance abuse disorders take lives and devastate families in all zip codes and of all walks of life. We are grateful to our partners at the DEA and IMPD for investigating this case and taking many kilograms of dangerous drugs off of our streets.”

“The sentence imposed on Mr. Nelson was justified,” said Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “Despite being out on bond for a drug offense, Mr. Nelson continued to distribute kilogram quantities of lethal fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine while possessing firearms to facilitate his drug trafficking activities. The DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local, and federal partners in order to keep our communities safe. The DEA commends the outstanding work by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office.”

The DEA and IMPD Drug Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Nelson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath who prosecuted the case.

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap. Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. 

INDIANAPOLIS- United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, issued the following statement on the death of former U.S. Attorney Timothy Morrison.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is deeply saddened to hear of Tim Morrison’s passing. Tim served his fellow Hoosiers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for over 23 years. On three separate occasions he led our office as U.S. Attorney, in 1993, from 2000 to 2001, and from 2007 through 2010. He served in office leadership for many years as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and successfully prosecuted a wide variety of offenses, including violent crimes, public corruption, fraud, firearms, and national security crimes. Tim was a lifelong prosecutor, who also served in the leadership of the Monroe County and Marion County Prosecutors’ Offices prior to joining the Department of Justice.

In addition to his accomplishments as a prosecutor, Tim was a beloved professor at his alma mater, Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. For almost ten years, law students benefited from Tim’s wisdom, experience, and passion for our profession. Tim’s dedication, compassion, decency, and commitment to promoting justice have left an indelible mark on the U.S. Attorney’s Office and on our community. We offer our sincerest condolences to Tim’s wife, Linda Hunt, and all of his family, loved ones, and colleagues.”