Southern District of Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Lamont King, 22, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2021, law enforcement officers saw King exit from a residential apartment building. King was under surveillance because he was a suspect in a March 30, 2021, armed robbery and had two outstanding arrest warrants stemming from other charges. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (IMPD SWAT) was in the vicinity because King was known to carry a firearm on his person.

IMPD SWAT approached King to arrest him and commanded him to stop. King was at the driver’s side door of a vehicle when he saw the officers approach. King moved towards the rear bumper and removed a pistol from his waistband dropping it on the ground. King was taken into police custody.

Police recovered the loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and located a plastic baggie containing 21 pills of 30 mg Oxycodone Hydrochloride in King’s pants pocket. King was transported to the Marion County Jail. Following an interview with law enforcement officers, a single 30 mg Oxycodone Hydrochloride pill was located on the floor underneath where King had been sitting.

King’s outstanding warrants were for failure to appear. King failed to appear in court for a probation violation related to a 2018, armed robbery felony conviction, and failed to appear related to a 2020 arrest for drug possession and drunk driving offenses. King is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his 2018 felony conviction.   

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office; and Police Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); made the announcement.

FBI investigated the case in conjunction with IMPD. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that King be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 – Darren Farris, 46, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to failing to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, on December 20, 2013, Farris was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, in Lasalle County in Ottawa, Illinois. As a result, Farris was required to register as a sex offender for life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

On or about July 14, 2019, Farris traveled from Tampa, Florida to Indianapolis via Greyhound bus.  Between July 14, 2019, and February 5, 2021, Farris resided in Indianapolis, but knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Joseph “Dan” McClain, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana, made the announcement.

The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Farris be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Farris 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 is prosecuting 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 – Shaylor Goer, 46, of Indianapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 1, 2022, Goer illegally possessed a.45 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Goer has nine prior felony convictions from state courts in Indiana and Illinois, beginning in 1995, including for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, domestic battery, failure to resister as a sex offender, burglary, and drug offenses. Goer is federally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of each of these convictions.

Goer made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Paul R. Cherry of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any 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 Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, made the announcement.

The ATF investigated the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate who is prosecuting the 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.

Additionally, 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.

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 – Jayveon Majors, 19, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Codefendant and Jayveon’s twin brother, Tayveon Majors, also pleaded guilty to stealing firearms and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on September 21, 2021.

According to court documents, early on the morning of January 21, 2021, Jayveon drove his brother to an Indianapolis car dealership, where Tayveon stole a car. The brothers then drove separately to a gun store in Speedway, Indiana. Tayveon used the stolen car to smash a hole into the side of the gun store to gain entry inside the building, while Jayveon served as a lookout from inside the getaway car. Video surveillance cameras in the store captured images of Tayveon carrying firearms out of the store and loading them into the getaway car. Javyeon drove the getaway car, his brother, and the guns to their Indianapolis residence. Tayveon stole 10 firearms from the store’s inventory and one additional firearm that was on the premises.

Following a tip from the public, a search warrant was executed at the brothers’ residence on January 26, 2021. Police found and arrested the two brothers, who were inside the residence at the time of the search. Police also recovered four of the stolen guns from the Speedway gun store robbery. During an interview with police, Tayveon admitted that he’d planned on selling the stolen guns and stolen vehicle.  

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

ATF investigated the case in conjunction with IMPD. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Jayveon and Tayveon each be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following their release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney William L. McCoskey 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 – Darryl Dwight Lewis, Jr., 32, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on February 23, 2020, Lewis used his Facebook account to send another user a video depicting an adult male engaged in sexual intercourse with a prepubescent boy. Facebook reported the transmission, and the incident was referred to law enforcement officers. Through their investigation, Lewis was identified as the individual associated with the offending Facebook account.

On July 14, 2021, law enforcement officers met with Lewis at his place of employment. Investigators seized a cell phone from Lewis’ pocket and transported him to the police station to be interviewed. A search warrant was executed at Lewis’ residence, and multiple digital devices were seized—including a 32GB thumb drive containing dozens of videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lewis admitted during his interview that he used the Facebook account in question to communicate with others. Lewis also admitted that he used a Dropbox account to store child sexual abuse material. Lewis possessed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse in his accounts and on his devices, including depictions children being made to engage in sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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.

FBI investigated the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Magnus-Stinson ordered that Lewis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison and ordered Lewis to pay $65,000 in restitution to the child exploitation victims. Lewis must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 – Patrick Hancock, 42, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on December 6, 2021, employees at a Costco in Avon called police after observing Hancock in the store wearing a badge with a gun on his person. Store employees had been alerted to be on the lookout for Hancock, who they believed to be travelling to multiple Costco locations and making purchases with fraudulent checks. Police responded and found Hancock wearing a DEA “Special Agent” badge around his neck and openly carrying a 9mm Glock pistol in a holster on his hip. Officers also found that Hancock was in possession of a baton and two pairs of handcuffs. During an interview, Hancock admitted to law enforcement that he purchased the fake DEA badge on a website to feel like part of something bigger.

Hancock is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has been previously convicted of multiple felony crimes over the past twenty years, for offenses including credit card theft, fraud, illegal firearms possession, and false impersonation of law enforcement.

Hancock’s most recent felony conviction was for being a felon in possession of a firearm in federal court in the Northern District of Indiana. That case stemmed from a 2017 incident where Hancock posed as a federal law enforcement officer and attempted to arrest an employee of an adult nightclub utilizing a false arrest warrant. Over the course of that investigation, law enforcement officers discovered that Hancock illegally possessed a firearm. Hancock was sentenced in the Northern District of Indiana to 41 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.  

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Columbus Field Division; and Police Chief Sean Stoops, of the Avon Police Department; made the announcement.

ATF investigated the case in conjunction with the Avon Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Hancock be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli 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 – Epigmenio Vazquez Gatica, 35, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Gatica also admitted to the sexual exploitation of two other children. 

In February 2021, a child disclosed that Gatica had been laying on the bathroom floor and filming the child while the child showered. This led to an investigation of Gatica. Law enforcement officers obtained a warrant to search his cellular telephone and were able to access the data. Investigators recovered multiple videos of that child, along with videos of two other children, including videos of the children naked and partially naked while showering or using the bathroom. The three victims include a toddler and a six-year-old, and at times Gatica had care, custody, or supervisory control over each of them. All three children appear to have been unaware they were being recorded. Investigators also recovered sexual exploitation images that Gatica took of one of the children from Gatica’s Google Drive account.

“Predators who are sexually interested in our children abuse our trust and our technology to satisfy their depraved desires,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We are committed to supporting victims and obtaining the electronic evidence necessary to hold these criminals accountable. The sentence imposed today should put offenders on notice that we will work tirelessly to ensure that criminals who exploit are children are sent to prison where they belong.”

“This sentence should send a warning that there are serious consequences that await those who are engaged in any way with child sexual abuse material,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Protecting our children from predators is a priority of the FBI and we will continue to work diligently to ensure predators feel the full weight of the law.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young also ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and must pay $9,000 in restitution to each of the three minor victims.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum 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.

In fiscal year 2019, when this case was prosecuted, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted the second most cases involving sexual exploitation of a child in the country.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

TERRE HAUTE – Christopher Wrought, 54, of Vincennes, Indiana, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking offenses.

According to court documents, in April of 2021, officers with the Greene County Drug Task Force, Indiana State Police, and Bloomington Police Department Drug Task Force were investigating Wrought for methamphetamine and heroin trafficking. Officers learned that Wrought traveled by charter bus from Bloomington, Indiana, and arrived in Fresno, California, on May 20, 2021. On May 25, 2021, Wrought shipped two parcels containing controlled substances via FedEx to an address in Bloomfield, Indiana. Wrought then boarded a Greyhound bus back to Bloomington.

On May 27, 2021, Wrought was stopped by drug interdiction officers in Kansas City, Missouri. During the stop, a K-9 alerted to a duffle bag belonging to Wrought. Wrought agreed to speak with the officers and exited the bus. Wrought admitted that he was traveling from California to Bloomington and consented to a search of his bags and his person. Officers located a white mailing envelope containing 229 grams of methamphetamine in one bag. In another bag, officers found 19 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic baggie containing 64 grams of marijuana, and a plastic baggie containing 8 grams of cocaine. A search of Wrought’s person revealed 2 grams of heroin in his pocket. Officers also located $10,000 in U.S. currency bundled with rubber bands.

The one-pound parcel delivered by FedEx on May 26, 2021, to the Bloomfield address, contained 232 grams of methamphetamine and 63 grams of cocaine. The five-pound parcel delivered by FedEx on May 27, 2021, to the same Bloomfield address, contained 907 grams of methamphetamine and 178 grams of heroin. Also contained inside the second parcel was a handwritten return address with Wrought’s name and a Solsberry address affiliated with Wrought. Investigators learned that approximately 12 suspected drug parcels had been sent from Fresno to Bloomfield and Solsberry addresses associated with Wrought over the past year.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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.

DEA investigated the case in conjunction with the Vigo County Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Wrought be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay Karwoski who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Brooke Bowie, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to four felony counts of making and using false documents in an attempt to fraudulently obtain COVID‑19 related disaster loans.

According to court documents, Bowie submitted four separate applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) following the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic. In all four applications for EIDL loans, Bowie claimed to run a business with some variant of the name “Icie Beauty 4 Life” with between $20,000 and $80,000 in revenue for the prior year. Bowie changed the spelling of the business on each loan application, as well as the nature of the business, and the number of purported employees.

Bowie’s applications were fraudulent because the purported business had no employees or revenue, and, in fact, did not even exist. In addition, Bowie stated on her EIDL loan applications that she had no pending felony charges. On the contrary, Bowie had numerous pending felony charges at the time of the applications. Indiana’s State Board of Accounts denied all four of Bowie’s EIDL loan applications due to suspicion of fraud. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Bowie be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following her release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley A. Blackington who prosecuted this case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID‑19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID‑19  can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

INDIANAPOLIS – Antoine Hopkins, 33, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on May 16, 2021, at approximately 2:12 am, an off-duty Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer working at a downtown Indianapolis parking garage was approached by a witness who had observed Hopkins with a rifle and heard threats made towards her. The officer heard a shot and was able to identify Hopkins as the individual with the rifle. The firearm was determined to be a Springfield AR-15 rifle loaded with two thirty-round magazines.

At the time he was in possession of the AR-15 in the parking garage, Hopkins was completing a term of imprisonment at a residential reentry center, or halfway house, following a March 2019 federal conviction for a prior instance of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hopkins also has prior felony convictions in Indiana for resisting law enforcement, possession of cocaine, and carrying a handgun without a license. Each of these prior felony convictions prohibits Hopkins from lawfully possessing a firearm.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Police Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

ATF investigated the case in conjunction with IMPD. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 – Nathaniel J. Jacobs, Sr., 54, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and witness tampering. Jacobs was found guilty on June 2, 2022, following a three-day federal jury trial.

According to documents and evidence introduced in court, on January 31, 2020, Jacobs was admitted to a local hospital for a gunshot wound to his hand. At the hospital, he told law enforcement officers that he accidently shot himself with one of the three guns he had at his home. Jacobs is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his numerous felony convictions, including multiple crimes of violence. Law enforcement searched Jacobs’ home pursuant to a warrant and found three handguns, ammunition, and approximately 7 grams of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine had been divided into smaller amounts and prepackaged in plastic bags for easy distribution.

After being indicted by a federal grand jury, Jacobs contacted a material witness on several occasions via telephone and video calls. During those calls, he falsely told the witness that she was under criminal investigation for shooting him in the hand, and the two of them needed to get married to legally protect themselves. Jacobs believed that his marriage to the witness would prevent her from testifying against him at trial. Jacobs told the witness that they could get divorced after the case concluded.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Indianapolis, made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Evansville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Jacobs be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Todd Shellenbarger 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 – Christopher Allen, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on November 5, 2019, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Allen was a passenger near 42nd Street and Baker Drive, in Indianapolis. The driver of the vehicle did not immediately stop but kept traveling and crossed into oncoming lanes of traffic before finally stopping against the opposite curb. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Allen fled from the passenger side and led police in a foot pursuit. During the pursuit, an officer observed a handgun in Allen’s left hand, which Allen later threw against a shed as he continued running. Officers also observed Allen toss a clear plastic bag containing a white substance. Allen eventually stopped running and gave himself up to police.

Police ran a record check and found that Allen had an active felony warrant for a community corrections violation and for failing to appear for a hearing related to a prior illegal firearms possession case. Officers searched Allen and found a $1 bill with three oxycodone pills inside and a small baggie of raw, ground marijuana in his right front pants pocket. Allen agreed to speak to officers, described the handgun, and told police where he threw it. Officers, with the assistance of a trained ballistics K-9 partner, recovered a 9mm handgun about 20 feet from the shed where Allen had indicated he’d thrown it. An extended magazine belonging to the handgun was found inside the vehicle that Allen had fled. Allen was subsequently arrested by IMPD.

Allen is a violent criminal offender with a history of illegally possessing firearms and has violated the terms of probation on multiple occasions. While on probation following convictions for domestic violence and criminal confinement against the mother of his child, Allen was charged in two new cases. The most significant of these two cases involved charges for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and maintaining a common nuisance. Allen was on community corrections for these offenses at the time of his November 5, 2019, arrest.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Allen be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.

Additionally, 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 – TorVon Davis, 31, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to court documents, on July 6, 2021, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police (IMPD) detective conducting surveillance near east 46th Street, in Indianapolis, observed Davis pull into a gas station and park near a gas pump. The detective saw Davis exit the vehicle and observed that he had a firearm in his waistband. The detective also saw that Davis’ vehicle had a tinted license plate. The detective drove through the parking lot and was able to identify the license plate number, which was expired. Davis returned to the vehicle and drove towards 46th Street before turning onto Arlington, making several traffic infractions along the way.

The detective radioed to two uniformed patrol cars in the area advising them of Davis’ traffic violations and informed them that Davis was armed. A uniformed police officer in a fully marked police car located Davis, who was driving 60 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour speed zone and initiated a traffic stop. Davis continued driving on Arlington and stopped after turning onto 41st Street. The officer approached the vehicle and identified Davis before asking for his license and registration. The officer asked Davis if he had any weapons in the vehicle, in which Davis falsely replied that he did not.

The officer returned to his vehicle and determined that Davis did not have a valid handgun permit in the state of Indiana. The officer was able to view photos, sent to him by the detective, of Davis entering the gas station with a handgun in his waistband and wearing the same clothes he was wearing at the time of the traffic stop. Davis was escorted out of the vehicle and placed in handcuffs. Davis admitted to the officer that he did not have a valid firearm permit and told the officer that he’d find the firearm in the glove box. The officer located a Ruger-57 semiautomatic handgun in the glovebox. Prior to transporting Davis to jail, Davis was searched, and the officer found a small bag of marijuana in Davis’ right sock.   

Davis is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms due to his four prior felony convictions. Davis was previously convicted of three felony charges of resisting law enforcement in 2014, 2015 and 2018 and one felony charge of burglary in 2018.       

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Davis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 – Jerry Poindexter, 27, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on August 31, 2021, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responded to a report of a personal injury accident on West Morris Street, in Indianapolis. Officers found Poindexter in the driver’s seat of his vehicle unconscious and slumped over the center console. The vehicle was stopped and still idling. An officer saw a black extended handgun magazine sticking out of Poindexter’s front right side that he believed was inserted into a handgun.

The officer also saw that vehicle was locked, still in drive and was being held in place by bushes or shrubbery. The officer tried several times to wake Poindexter but was unsuccessful, forcing the officer to break out the driver’s side window, to secure the vehicle. When officers opened the door and pulled Poindexter out of the vehicle, they found a handgun with an extended magazine in Poindexter’s right front waistband. The firearm was identified as a SCCY, model CPX-1, 9mm Luger, semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.

Poindexter regained consciousness after being treated by medics and initially provided officers with a false name. Once officers were able to positively identify Poindexter, they learned he had several warrants for his arrest. Poindexter was transported to the hospital for treatment and while enroute informed the medics that he had taken Xanax. Officers searched the front passenger seat of Poindexter’s vehicle and found a small baggie of suspected heroin. Poindexter was later arrested.

Poindexter has four previous state court felony convictions, including, dealing methamphetamine and marijuana, criminal recklessness, and forgery. Poindexter is prohibited from possessing firearms because of these prior felony convictions.          

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Poindexter be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett 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 – Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and the Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the Indiana State Board of Nursing (Nursing Board) to resolve claims it violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The settlement agreement ensures that nurses who take medication to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) can remain on their medication when participating in the Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program. The program assists in rehabilitating and monitoring nurses with substance use disorders, and is often required for these nurses to maintain an active license or have one reinstated. The department previously notified the Nursing Board of its findings, and described the remedial measures necessary for the Nursing Board to address the ADA violation identified. This case was handled jointly by the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

“The opioid epidemic has greatly impacted professionals and families of all walks of life, and Indiana nurses have the right to seek medically approved treatment for opioid use disorder under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “Following the Justice Department’s findings and the parties’ settlement agreement, Indiana must now enact policies to ensure that Hoosier nurses will not be forced to choose between their recovery and their livelihoods.”

“Indiana may not deny individuals life-saving medications, including medications that treat opioid use disorder, based on stereotypes and misinformation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Requiring nurses to stop taking prescribed medication as a condition of maintaining a nursing license violates the ADA, and not only creates barriers to recovery, but inappropriately limits employment opportunities based on disability.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Nursing Board will allow nurses to participate in the states’ rehabilitation program while taking medication, including medication to treat OUD, when the medication is prescribed by a licensed practitioner as part of a medically necessary treatment plan and incorporated into a recovery monitoring agreement. In addition, the Nursing Board has agreed to revise its written polices to ensure that nurses taking prescribed medications for OUD are not subjected to discriminatory conditions or terms. The Nursing Board has also agreed to pay a total of $70,000 in damages to the complainant, and to report periodically on its compliance to the United States.

Methadone and buprenorphine (including brand names Subutex and Suboxone) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OUD. According to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), methadone and buprenorphine help diminish the effects of physical dependency on opioids. When taken as prescribed, these medications are safe and effective.

The Civil Rights Division, together with U.S. Attorneys’ offices, has been working to remove discriminatory barriers to recovery for individuals who have completed, or are participating in, treatment for OUD. Through outreach, technical assistance and enforcement under the ADA, the Civil Rights Division seeks to ensure that those in treatment or recovery can successfully participate in their communities and the workforce. For example:

• On April 5, 2022, the department issued guidance on protections for people with OUD under the ADA.
• On March 24, 2022, the department entered into a Settlement Agreement with the Massachusetts Trial Court to resolve allegations that its drug court violated the ADA by discriminating against individuals with OUD.
• On March 17, 2022, the department entered into a Settlement Agreement with Ready to Work, a Colorado-based employment, residential and social services program for individuals experiencing homelessness, resolving allegations that the program denied admission to an individual because she takes medication for OUD.
• On February 24, 2022, the department filed a lawsuit against the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, alleging that it prohibits or otherwise limits participants in its court supervision programs from using medication to treat OUD.

For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. Complaints about disability-based discrimination may be reported to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana by submitting a Civil Rights Complaint form, which can be found here, or sending an email to USAINS-CivilRights1@usdoj.gov. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Mindi B. Madison, 52, of Indianapolis, has been charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Madison will make her initial appearance on September 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 349, at the federal court in Indianapolis.

According to court documents, Madison began working as an Accounting Specialist for WFYI Public Media (“WFYI”) in January 2018. WFYI was owned and operated by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, Inc., and provided television and radio programming throughout Central Indiana. Madison’s co-conspirator, Individual 1, was neither an employee nor a vendor of WFYI.

As an Accounting Specialist, Madison had access to WFYI’s accounting software, and was trusted to present legitimate expenses, claims, invoices, and supporting documentation along with the unsigned WFYI checks to employees at WFYI who had signature authority for their approval and signature. Instead of presenting legitimate claims that arose out of WFYI’s legitimate business expenses for signature and payment, Madison abused her position of trust, and presented at least 156 fake claims and invoices for payment. In effort to conceal the theft from WFYI and their banking institutions, Madison and Individual 1 agreed that Madison would falsify invoices using versions of Individual 1’s name and businesses connected to her. 

Madison tendered WFYI checks to Individual 1, and they agreed that Individual 1 would then deposit the checks into Individual 1’s bank accounts. Individual 1 then withdrew Madison’s portion in cash, and they split the illegal proceeds. Both Madison and Individual 1 used WFYI’s stolen funds for their own personal expenditures including but not limited to, rent, restaurants, groceries, fuel, and utilities. In total, Madison embezzled approximately $270,876 from WFYI before her theft was discovered.  

If convicted, Madison faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any 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 Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.

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

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

EVANSVILLE – Chris Lynn Carder II, 36, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, in July of 2019, an FBI agent working in Salt Lake City, Utah, was conducting an undercover investigation online using the social networking application Kik. On July 18, 2019, the agent was contacted by the Kik user “clcarder” and they began communicating. During their communications, clcarder expressed an interest in sex with children and sent two videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to the agent.

The individual using the username clcarder was later identified by law enforcement to be Carder. A search warrant was executed at Carder’s residence in Evansville on March 12, 2020. Following the search, Carter admitted to FBI agents that he created the Kik account and that he used the username clcarder to send materials depicting the sexual abuse of children. Pursuant to the search warrant, investigators were able to access the data stored on Carder’s two cellular telephones and they found child sexual abuse materials on his electronic devices. The images and videos distributed and possessed by Carder included depictions of the sexual abuse of children under twelve years old and some involved sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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.

FBI investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Carder be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for eight years following his release from federal prison and ordered Carder to pay $6,000 in restitution to the child exploitation victims. Carder must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger 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 – Wesley Cartwright, 39, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on January 5, 2022, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department attempted to serve an eviction notice to Cartwright at his residence in Indianapolis. Cartwright refused to exit the residence. After more than five hours of Cartwright refusing to come out, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers arrived to assist. Officers observed lights on inside the residence and believed Cartwright may still be inside. Officers were informed that Cartwright is a convicted felon and that he may be in possession of a firearm.

Law enforcement officers obtained warrants to allow them to arrest Cartwright and to search for firearms inside the residence. IMPD officers communicated sporadically with Cartwright over the phone, but Cartwright indicated he had no intention of cooperating with the police and that he wasn’t going back to prison.

IMPD SWAT deployed a drone into Cartwright’s residence and observed that he was armed with two handguns. Cartwright hit the drone with his hands knocking it to the ground and then fired several shots inside the residence. As SWAT officers launched chemical munitions through the window, Cartwright began firing multiple rounds at the officers. IMPD SWAT moved armored vehicles toward the residence and Cartwright began firing at the officers again. He directly pointed a firearm at one of the officers and shot down a second drone.

After 12 hours of continued negotiations and Cartwright still refusing to exit the residence, IMPD SWAT entered the residence and took Cartwright into custody. Cartwright was found wearing a ballistic vest. Police seized two loaded handguns from inside the residence.

Beginning in 2009, Cartwright has sustained five previous convictions for felony offenses including intimidation, battery by means of a deadly weapon, theft and dealing narcotics. Under federal law, anyone who has been convicted of any felony offense is prohibited from possessing firearms.

“Every day, law enforcement officers serve their communities at risk to their own lives. Recently, and far too often, we have seen the tragedies that can result when police working to protect the public encounter illegally armed, violent criminals,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Prosecutions of violent repeat offenders are critical to our efforts to stem the tide of gun violence. The serious federal sentence imposed for these crimes demonstrates that we will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and to hold armed and dangerous criminals accountable.”

“The defendant chose to violently confront police officers who legally came to his home to serve an eviction notice, all while already being prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous criminal history,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “IMPD and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office handled this situation professionally and brought the defendant into custody without injury to any civilians or officers, for which we are all grateful. When we talk about removing violent individuals from our communities, this is exactly what we mean, and ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners toward this end.”

“In my opinion, the federal enhancement penalty for committing crimes while armed is one of the three most effective tools in fighting crime,” said Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal. “Citizens in Indiana have their rights to carry a gun, but that does not extend to committing a crime while armed. An additional steep price must be paid by those who do so. I thank United States Attorney Zach Myers and his office for the strong position in protecting our community.”

ATF investigated the case in conjunction with IMPD. Invaluable assistance was provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Cartwright be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jonathan Warren, 22, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, from May through August of 2020, Warren sent multiple threats and attempted to kill Victim 1 at least two times. In each of those attempts, Warren fired indiscriminately into crowded areas. On May 24, 2020, Warren fired into Victim 1’s house, then later that evening committed a drive by shooting into the Masjid E Noor mosque. Multiple worshipers were at the mosque, as it was the Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” On June 9, 2020, Warren fired multiple shoots across the parking lot of the Pangea Apartments on West 34th Street, causing multiple bystanders to flee in terror. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Program were able to reconstruct the shootings, through the examination of shell casings collected at the scene, and identify Warren, leading to his arrest and conviction.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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.

FBI investigated the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Warren be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley P. Shepard who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Edwin Agbi, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for mail fraud, use of a fictitious name in furtherance of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Agbi was found guilty on March 2, 2022, following a three-day federal jury trial.

According to documents and evidence introduced in court, in 2018, an international group of scammers working with Agbi created fake profiles on OurTime, an online dating service designed for adults over 50. Over time, the scammers were able to deceive several senior victims, making them believe that they were in genuine relationships with the fake personas. Eventually, the scammers asked the victims for money, explaining that they needed funds for various reasons, including taxes and travel expenses. The victims sometimes sent the requested money.

Agbi’s role in the scheme was to receive money from the victims and pass it along to his partners. The victims mailed packages containing large amounts of cash to Agbi’s home in Indianapolis because they believed he would get the money to their significant other. Agbi received those packages under the alias “Kareem Sunday.” Upon receiving the cash, Agbi would keep a portion for himself and then have the remaining money deposited into his co-conspirators’ foreign bank accounts.

In 2018 and 2019, multiple packages containing cash were delivered to Agbi’s home. In total, the packages contained at least $75,000 in cash. During the investigation, federal agents intercepted one of the packages sent by a victim to Agbi and found that it contained $20,000 in cash.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Jeffrey Adams, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Secret Service, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector-in-Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Field Division, made the announcement.

The United States Secret Service and United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Agbi be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison and to pay $95,500 in restitution to the victims.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and MaryAnn T. Mindrum who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative. The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.

INDIANAPOLIS – Shane Theisz, 44, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on July 28, 2021, Theisz was on state probation when Vigo County Drug Task Force officers conducted a search of his Terre Haute residence. During the search, officers found 141 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, $7,195 in U.S. Currency, and two handguns: a loaded .40 caliber and a 9mm. The .40 caliber handgun was previously reported stolen. Theisz was arrested and transported to the Vigo County Jail where he admitted to law enforcement officers that the methamphetamine belonged to him and was the amount he normally obtained from his source of supply.

Theisz has a serious criminal history that spans over 13 years and involves a prior felony conviction for dealing methamphetamine in Vigo County as well as two domestic battery misdemeanors, one in which he threatened to kill a woman.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 DEA investigated the case. The Terre Haute Police Department provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Theisz be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jasaun Pope a/k/a “Biz”, 31, of Valley Stream, New York, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison late yesterday for mail fraud and money laundering offenses related to his role in a nationwide elder fraud scheme. Pope and four co-conspirators have all signed plea agreements for their roles in the offense, and Pope is the first to be sentenced.

According to court documents, from at least April 2020 and continuing through January 2021, Pope, along with co-conspirators Darlens Renard, Princess Elizer, Jennifer Glemeau, and Kareem Brown, targeted and exploited the elderly and their relationships with their relatives for personal financial gain. This sophisticated criminal network, through extortion and fraud, induced elderly Americans across the United States to pay tens of thousands of dollars to help their grandchild or other close family relative in a scam known as a “Grandparent Scam.” 

Unidentified members of the conspiracy made scam telephone calls to elderly victims in Indiana and nationwide 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 victims to send an overnight delivery of cash to help the purported relative in need—typically between $5,000 and $15,000—to a delivery address used by the conspiracy. Pope’s crew, consisting of Elizer, Glemeau, and Brown, traveled to cities around the country to identify unoccupied residences to use as cash delivery addresses. Pope’s crew relayed the delivery addresses to Pope, who in turn, sent them to Renard, who provided them to other members of the conspiracy. Pope’s crew then traveled to the delivery addresses to retrieve the cash sent by the elderly victims and the conspirators divided the criminal proceeds amongst themselves.

To date, investigators have identified over sixty-eight suspected victims of the defendants’ scheme and identified losses amounting to over $683,464.

“These sophisticated criminal organizations exploit the elderly by preying on the love and commitment they have for their families,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “These heinous frauds wreak immeasurable financial and emotional harm on victims to satisfy the greed of networks of criminals. Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute scammers who seek to take advantage of vulnerable members of our community.”

“Honest and hard-working citizens are fed up with criminals who exploit the vulnerable through scams and deceit,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Those who engage in this type of cruel financial fraud should know they will not fly under the radar and will be held accountable.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to vigorously pursue those who utilize the U.S. Mail to advance their fraud schemes,” said Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division. “Crimes of these type bring grave financial and personal hardships to their victims.  Criminal misuse of the U.S. Mail will not be tolerated, and our agency will continue to go after those who seek to take advantage of vulnerable individuals.”

“The Metro Drug Task Force is proud of the work of our investigators who stepped outside their normal scope of investigations to bring these criminals to justice,” said Bryan P. Smith, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. “We want to thank our federal and international partners for their cooperation to bring this case together. For those criminals that wish to victimize central Indiana communities, the Task Force will continue to use whatever means available to them to find bad actors and make our communities safer.”

The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Metro Drug Task Force 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.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Magnus-Stinson also ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $554,574.02 to the victims.

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. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Bradford Jensen, 50, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Jensen was on parole in Marion County, Indiana, after serving 8 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a serious felon. On October 28, 2021, parole agents searched Jensen and his residence, and found a loaded 9mm handgun. Jensen admitted to possession of the firearm during an interview with law enforcement officers.

Jensen is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a convicted felon. Over 30 years, Jenson has accumulated ten felony convictions, including domestic battery, stalking, conspiracy to commit burglary, and two prior convictions for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Jensen be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli 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.

Additionally, 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

NEW ALBANY – Anthony Martinez, 32, of Scottsburg, Indiana, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to robbing a credit union and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in the Southern District of Indiana and robbing four banks in the Western District of Kentucky.  

According to court documents, between November 13, 2015, and January 14, 2020, Martinez robbed four banks in Louisville, Kentucky and a credit union in Madison, Indiana. Armed and disguised, Martinez entered the institutions, demanded money, and threatened to shoot the employees if they did not comply with his demands. Martinez brandished his firearm, sometimes attempting to shoot it into the air, bound his victims with zip ties, and ordered them to the vault or bathroom—telling them not to come out for 10 minutes while he escaped. Martinez stole a total of $377,775.

Martinez was arrested on February 13, 2020, by the Louisville Metro Robbery Unit and detained in the custody of the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. On September 29, 2020, Martinez escaped from jail. On October 13, 2020, federal and local law enforcement officers located and arrested Martinez in Hanover, Indiana.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky; and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Louisville Metro Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Indiana State Police. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Martinez be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison. Martinez is also ordered to pay $377,775 in restitution to the victim banks. Martinez was originally scheduled to be sentenced August 19, 2022, but the hearing was rescheduled after law enforcement officers transporting Martinez observed him attempt to remove his handcuffs, which had been tampered with using a small piece of metal in the keyhole.

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

INDIANAPOLIS – James Hoskins, 41, of Indianapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the federal crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on June 20, 2022, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were dispatched to South Belmont Street on a report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers learned that Hoskins and his wife had been arguing, and that during the argument, Hoskins had threatened, physically assaulted, and pointed a handgun at his wife. Police located the gun and arrested Hoskins.  

Hoskins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony convictions. Hoskins was convicted of forgery and theft in 2012, escape and burglary in 2016, and synthetic identity deception in 2018, all felony convictions in Marion County, Indiana.

Hoskins made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any 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 Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

The ATF is investigating the case. IMPD provided valuable assistance.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Fugate who is prosecuting the 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 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, 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.

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 – Alexander Clark, 26, of Franklin, Indiana, was charged by criminal complaint for the federal offenses of dealing firearms without a license, possession and/or transfer of machine guns and manufacturing machine guns.

According to court documents, in May of 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began an investigation into Clark for unlawfully manufacturing and selling privately made firearms, including machine guns. Over the course of the next several months, ATF agents conducted a covert investigation and purchased several 3-D printed Glock style firearms and devices capable of converting semiautomatic rifles to fully automatic machineguns from Clark. A search warrant was executed at Clark’s residence on August 22, 2022, in conjunction with the criminal complaint, and Clark was subsequently arrested.

During the search of Clark’s residence, law enforcement officers seized approximately 30 firearms including several 3-D printed firearms, several “Glock switches” used to convert firearms into machine guns, a suspected fully automatic AR-15 rifle, 3-D printing filament, a laptop with a Glock frame on screen connected to a 3-D printer, and a silencer.

Clark does not possess a Federal Firearms License authorizing him to sell firearms and he had not registered the weapons in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as is required for this category of firearms. 3-D printed firearms of this type are untraceable and are referred to as “ghost guns.” Ghost guns are unserialized, privately made firearms increasingly recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes across the country. Because ghost guns lack the serial numbers marked on other firearms, they are impossible for law enforcement to trace through the ATF’s National Tracing Center.

Clark made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and was ordered detained pending a hearing. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any 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 Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

ATF is investigating this case in collaboration with the Columbus (Indiana) Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson McGrath who is prosecuting the case.

This case is being brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s National Ghost Gun Initiative. The initiative was launched in February 2022 in response to the proliferation of ghost guns in our communities, and the growing number of criminals who unlawfully use or possess these untraceable weapons. The Attorney General directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to train a national cadre of prosecutors as experts to lead investigations and prosecutions of crimes involving ghost guns. These ghost gun coordinators will also share investigation and prosecution tools with other prosecutors and law enforcement officers. As part of the initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana will focus its investigation and prosecution resources on combatting the illegal possession, use, and sale of ghost guns.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

NEW ALBANY – Cornelio Moran-Miranda, 39, of New Albany, Indiana, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. 

According to court documents, on June 1, 2021, investigators with the New Albany Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. During a search of the defendant’s bedroom, officers located approximately 7.75 pounds of cocaine, 2.75 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.41 ounces of heroin, digital scales, and $20,142 in United States currency.  During a search of a detached garage to the residence, officers located two rifles, an UZI-style pistol, and a money counter. During a search of the defendant’s truck, officers located a Ruger pistol with an obliterated serial number. The defendant was subsequently arrested.    

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Indianapolis, made the announcement.

The New Albany Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt following the defendant’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski who prosecuted this case.

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.

INDIANAPOLIS – Darryl Brent Waltz, 48, of Greenwood, Indiana, and John Keeler, 72, of Indianapolis, were each sentenced today for devising and participating in election finance schemes. Waltz pleaded guilty to receiving fictitious donations and for lying and misleading FBI agents who were investigating these illegal contributions and was sentenced to ten months in federal prison. Keeler pleaded guilty to causing the filing of a false tax return and was sentenced to two months in federal prison. 

According to court documents, Waltz, a former Indiana State Senator and 2016 candidate for U.S. Congress, funneled $40,500 in illegal conduit contributions to his congressional campaign. Maryland-based political consultant Kelley Rogers directed corporate funds from Indiana-based casino company New Centaur LLC into the “Brent Waltz for Congress” campaign through over a dozen straw donors and Waltz himself.

Also, according to court documents, Keeler, former vice president and general counsel of New Centaur LLC, paid Rogers $41,000 in New Centaur corporate funds and directed him to funnel $25,000 to a local political party committee in Marion County, Indiana. To further conceal the nature of the contribution, Keeler caused New Centaur’s federal tax return filed with the Internal Revenue Service to falsely describe the $41,000 payment to Rogers as a deductible business expense. 

The FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Waltz be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison and pay a $40,500 fine. Keeler was ordered to be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for one year following his release from federal prison and pay a $55,000 fine.

“Illegal and undisclosed corporate contributions damage public trust in our elections,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Secretly funneling illegal casino money into political campaigns is a serious crime and the criminals who do so will be held accountable.”

“The integrity of our elections is of paramount importance to maintaining public trust in our democratic process,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencings demonstrate that the FBI is committed to ensuring that those who attempt to undermine the public’s trust by perpetrating election finance schemes and then compounding their misdeeds by lying to authorities, will ultimately be held to account for their actions.”

"The sentencing of these individuals proves there are consequences for the misuse of positions of trust within both the private and public sector," said Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell, Chicago Field Office, IRS – Criminal Investigation. "IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to protecting the integrity of our system of taxation by investigating individuals who violate our tax laws." 

U.S. Attorney Myers, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney Myers and A.A.G. Polite thanked Bradley P. Shepard, Senior Litigation Counsel for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and William J. Gullotta and John P. Taddei, Trial Attorneys in the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section for their work in prosecuting these cases.

INDIANAPOLIS – Julius Johnson, 44, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on June 7, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Johnson’s storage unit as part of a drug trafficking investigation. When police went to search the storage unit, they found Johnson, who was immediately arrested. Police found $5,636 and multiple cell phones on Johnson’s person. Inside the storage unit, officers located a vehicle which contained a firearm. Johnson’s DNA was found on the gun. After further investigation, police located a bag containing 59.2 grams of fentanyl in Johnson’s underpants. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage.

Johnson has prior felony convictions in Indiana for carrying a handgun without a license, dealing in cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. These prior felony convictions prohibit Johnson from possessing a firearm.

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

Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.

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

EVANSVILLE – Patrick Garrett, 33, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Garrett was employed as a Sales Specialist for a business located in Gibson County, Indiana. Garrett was responsible for handling accounts payable and accounts receivable. From April 9, 2021, to July 16, 2021, Garrett devised and executed a direct bill and fake invoice scheme to steal $87,192.26 from his employer.

Garrett purchased approximately 62 items for himself from Amazon and other retailers by charging the purchases to his employer without authorization. Garrett’s fraudulent purchases included a car, five gas motorcycles, three electric scooters, an Apple iPad Pro, an Apple iMac Pro desktop computer, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop computer, and two drones. Garrett entered false or altered information about these purchases into his employer’s accounting system to conceal the fraud.

Garrett also submitted false invoices into his employer’s accounting system for services he claimed were provided by Garrett Ventures. Garrett created the company in 2018 and served as its Chief Financial Officer. No services were ever provided by Garrett Ventures to Garrett’s employer.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Jeffrey Adams, acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service; Rodney Hopkins, Inspector of Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Sheriff Timothy Bottoms of the Gibson County Sherriff’s Office made the announcement.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Gibson County Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Garrett pay restitution of $87,192.84, forfeit any illicitly purchased items, and be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Miller who prosecuted this case.

EVANSVILLE – Glynn Petticord, 51, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to escaping from federal custody.

According to court documents, Petticord was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Towards the end of his sentence, Petticord was transferred by the federal Bureau of Prisons to a residential reentry center in Evansville. The Bureau of Prisons contracts with residential reentry centers, also known as halfway houses, to provide assistance to inmates who are nearing release. Inmates serving a portion of their sentence at a residential reentry center are only authorized to leave the RRC through sign-out procedures for approved activities.

Petticord was to remain in the facility and abide by the facility’s rules until his projected release date of June 5, 2021. On April 24, 2021, Petticord left the reentry center without authorization and did not return. Law enforcement apprehended Petticord in Evansville on January 31, 2022. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Joseph “Dan” McClain, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana made the announcement.

The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Miller who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – American Senior Communities, L.L.C. (ASC), a provider of skilled nursing and long-term care services throughout Indiana, has agreed to pay $5,591,044.66 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Medicare program.

In 2017, a former employee of a hospice services company doing business with ASC filed a sealed civil complaint or “whistleblower” lawsuit under the False Claims Act in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The complaint alleged that ASC had engaged in conduct to defraud the Medicare program. Specifically, the complaint alleged that ASC was charging Medicare directly for various therapy services provided to beneficiaries who had been placed on hospice, when those services should have already been covered by the beneficiaries’ Medicare hospice coverage.

The False Claims Act provides that when a whistleblower files a lawsuit alleging fraud that results in a recovery of funds by the Government they are entitled to between 15 and 25% of the recovery. This whistleblower provision of the law encourages people to come forward when they believe fraud is being committed. Under the False Claims Act, the Government may collect up to three times the loss it incurred, plus a fine of between approximately $5,500 to $22,000 for each false bill submitted.

Based on the investigation, the estimated loss to the Medicare program was $2,795,522.33 and ASC has agreed to pay $5,591,044.66 to the United States.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Whistleblowers are critical to protecting public funds from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Health care providers who submit false claims or otherwise violate state and federal regulations when billing the United States Government will face consequences.

Today’s settlement demonstrates that federal law enforcement agencies will vigorously investigate reports of false claims and seek to recover funds on behalf of the public.”

“Health care providers that submit inappropriate claims to Medicare to boost their own profits compromise the integrity of this important federal health care program,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work tirelessly, alongside our law enforcement partners, to ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and hold those who violate the law accountable.”

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shelese Woods and Justin Olson who handled the case for the United States.

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

INDIANAPOLIS – Davion Andrews, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on January 22, 2021, Andrews crashed a borrowed car into a guardrail on I-70. An Indiana State Trooper arrived at the scene and began investigating the crash. During the investigation, the trooper saw a firearm magazine in Andrews’ jacket pocket and later discovered a firearm in the car. Further investigation revealed that, in 2020, Andrews was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon in Marion County. Andrews was ordered to serve his sentence through Marion County Community Corrections. At the time of the crash, Andrews had covered his GPS monitoring band with foil, which is often done by individuals trying to hide their location from Community Corrections personnel.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The Indiana State Police provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Andrews be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle P. Brady 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Darrion Elliott, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to fifty-seven months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to court documents, Elliott was on parole in Marion County, Indiana, after he was convicted of being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm. On January 9, 2020, parole officers arrived for a scheduled home visit at the address Elliott falsely claimed was his residence. Officers found Elliott standing outside on the front porch with no key to access the residence. Officers searched Elliott’s phone and determined his actual address.

Officers searched Elliott’s actual residence and found 47 grams of heroin, a cutting agent for processing heroin, a digital scale, and plastic baggies. Officers also found three firearms: a loaded 9mm handgun, another 9mm handgun, a .25 caliber handgun, a .45 caliber rifle. As part of his guilty plea, Elliott admitted that he possessed the heroin with the intent to distribute it. Elliott has a serious criminal history spanning over a decade, which includes three prior felony convictions, all involving drugs and guns.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Elliott be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury in Indianapolis returned an indictment late yesterday charging Terrance Clarke, 34, of Athens, Georgia, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on October 3, 2021, Clarke was working as a Lyft driver and picked up a customer in Fishers, Indiana. While enroute to the customer’s destination, Clarke drove onto the roundabout at 131st Street and Cumberland Road and collided with another vehicle. Both vehicles pulled off to the side of the road. Clarke exited his vehicle and removed a bag from the front passenger seat, placing it in the trunk. Clarke then removed a second bag from under the front passenger seat, also placing it in the trunk. Officers from the Fishers Police Department responded to the accident scene.

Officers ran a check of Clarke’s driver’s license and discovered that he had an active and extraditable warrant out of Georgia for attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault. Clark was taken into custody and placed under arrest.

During a search of the car, officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson 40 caliber handgun in a backpack. An additional loaded magazine and a small plastic bag containing marijuana were also located in this backpack.

In April of 2017, Clarke was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in federal court in Georgia and is prohibited from legally possessing firearms.  

Clarke is currently in custody of the U.S. Marshal. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any 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 Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

ATF is investigating the case. The Fishers Police Department also provided valuable assistance.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick G. Gibson who is prosecuting the 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 – Anthony Hughes, 37, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on January 29, 2020, Hughes was stopped in his vehicle by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers. Officers discovered a firearm inside a passenger’s purse, that Hughes admitted to possessing. Hughes is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including criminal recklessness, stemming from a domestic assault where he bit a victim in the jaw and threatened her with a knife. When the victim’s minor son intervened, Hughes choked the child. Hughes was also previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery for repeatedly punching a victim in the face and choking her. Hughes also has a 2009 domestic battery conviction for assaulting his minor son. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

The IMPD investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Hughes be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli 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.

Additionally, 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Tremain Prevot, 39, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on June 4, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a person with a firearm in the area of 25th Street and Post Road on the far east side of Indianapolis. Officers arrived on the scene and saw Prevot carrying an AR15-style rifle and a black handgun, both loaded with extended magazines. The handgun was stolen. Prevot has four prior felony convictions, including a conviction for carrying a handgun without a license. Prevot admitted to the responding officers that he knew he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

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

ATF and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Prevot be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for one year following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Anthony Sterling, 42, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to court documents, on August 19, 2020, law enforcement officers conducted a compliance check of Sterling at his reported residence in Indianapolis. At the time, Sterling was serving a criminal sentence on community corrections following a conviction in Marion County for dealing in methamphetamine. During a lawful search of the property, law enforcement discovered baggies containing over 200 grams of heroin, an additional bag containing 212 grams lactose used as a cutting agent, a digital scale, and a credit card with residue. Sterling admitted the heroin was his and that he sold it. Sterling has been convicted of at least ten prior felony offenses, including five prior drug trafficking felonies.

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

DEA and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Sterling be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

TERRE HAUTE – Adam Moore, 39, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on July 28, 2021, Vigo County Drug Task Force officers conducted a search of a residence where Moore was present. Officers found Moore in possession of over 100 grams of methamphetamine. Further investigation led officers to a camper belonging to Moore, where officers seized over 200 grams of methamphetamine and $10,690 in U.S. currency. Moore had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including a 2011 conviction for dealing in methamphetamine, in Vigo County.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Terre Haute Police Department Chief Shawn Keen made the announcement.

The Terre Haute Police Department investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Magnus-Stinson ordered that Moore be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Pedro Ibarra, 48, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, was sentenced today to fifty years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child.

According to court documents, on June 21, 2021, Ibarra engaged in a Google Duo online chat with a boy who lived in Indiana. The child was under 13 years old at the time. During that chat, Ibarra persuaded the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct, which Ibarra recorded on his cell phone. On June 22, 2021, Ibarra drove from Illinois to Hancock County, Indiana, where he picked the victim up and drove the boy to a local hotel. At the hotel, Ibarra engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the child, which Ibarra recorded on his cell phone.

During the investigation, Ibarra’s cell phone was examined by the Indiana State Police. Officers were able to lawfully access information stored on the device. In addition to images of the Indiana child, an examiner discovered multiple recordings of Ibarra engaged in sexually explicit conduct with another boy. This child was later identified as a boy who lived in Illinois and was younger than fifteen years old.

Ibarra was a Chicago Public School teacher when he committed these crimes and taught elementary school students for more than three years.

“The heinous sexual abuse of these children is every parent’s nightmare. These tragic crimes reiterate that those who seek to sexually exploit our children online and in person are often the people parents and children should be able to trust,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The significant sentence imposed today shows that federal, state, and local law enforcement will work together tirelessly to identify child sexual predators and send them to prison where they belong.”

“This sentence illustrates our strong commitment to protect our children from those who engage in this type of activity and exploit them,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Because of the teamwork of the FBI and our law enforcement partners this perpetrator will no longer be able to prey on the most vulnerable in our community.”

“The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department worked to have Ibarra in custody within hours of the child’s report,” said Detective David Wood. “Communities place a tremendous amount of trust in teachers, and when someone in such a position commits crimes of sexual exploitation, it is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be in looking out for our children.”

“Indiana State Police investigators work diligently every day, all across Indiana, and in close collaboration with its law enforcement partners, to help bring to justice those who seek to perpetuate the victimization of children”, said Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter.

“Those who perpetuate crimes against children in Hancock County and throughout the State must know that we will do everything within our power to protect our kids and hold offenders accountable,” said Aimee Herring, Hancock County Chief Deputy Prosecutor. “Special thanks to our federal partners and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department for all of their work on this investigation and prosecution which ultimately resulted in Ibarra’s conviction.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police investigated the case. The Hancock County Prosecutors Office provided valuable assistance. As part of Ibarra’s sentence, Judge James Patrick Hanlon ordered that he be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from prison and ordered Ibarra to pay $30,000 each to both minor victims. Ibarra must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina M. Korobov 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 – Deeon Flowers, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to fifty-seven months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on October 17, 2020, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were dispatched to a gas station around 38th and Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis. When officers arrived, they were told that Flowers had taken his girlfriend’s 11-year-old child without the mother’s permission. Officers located Flowers in the driver’s seat of a vehicle stopped at the gas station. The child was in the front passenger seat. Officers observed a handgun magazine protruding from Flowers’ waistband and could also see marijuana in plain view in the center console area.

Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and recovered a loaded 9mm Taurus G2C, underneath the driver’s seat, as well as another loaded magazine from inside a lunchbox on the front passenger floorboard. Flowers is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The firearm was swabbed for DNA, which was later determined to match Flowers’ DNA. At the time of the offense, Flowers was on pretrial supervision after being charged with felony intimidation and misdemeanor domestic battery in Marion County, Indiana, in November of 2019.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Chief Randal Taylor, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

IMPD and the ATF investigated the case. U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon imposed the sentence following Flowers’ guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Flowers be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa who prosecuted this case.

This case was brought as part of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). ICGTF is a partnership of law enforcement officers and analysts from several central Indiana law enforcement agencies in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties. In cooperation with state, local, and federal partners, ICGTF collaborates to address violent crime through a comprehensive strategy including innovative approaches to locating suspects and evidence related to violent crimes and illegal possession of firearms.

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.

Additionally, this case is also 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Arnold Castillo, 22, of Paterson, New Jersey, has been arrested on charges of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, beginning sometime in February 2022, Castillo used a social media application to communicate with a minor child from central Indiana with the goal of luring her to New Jersey for illicit sexual purposes. Over several months, Castillo showered praise upon the minor, sent her gifts through an online retailer, and paid her money. These tactics, also known as “grooming,” are used by sex offenders to gain a minor’s trust and alienate them from family and other support systems.

On or about May 3, 2022, Castillo coerced and enticed the minor to travel from Indiana to New Jersey for illicit purposes. Castillo paid and arranged for an Uber driver to pick up the minor and transport her across state lines to him.

Using data from the social media application and the online retailer, investigators traced the minor to an address in Patterson, New Jersey. On May 11, 2022, investigators recovered the minor from Castillo’s residence and later reunited her with her mother. New Jersey authorities arrested Castillo on state charges, and he was charged under seal in federal court in Indianapolis the following morning.

On May 12, 2022, Castillo appeared before a federal Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey and was detained and ordered removed to the Southern District of Indiana to face charges. Today, the defendant made his initial appearance in Indianapolis and was ordered detained in the custody of the United States Marshal pending trial. If convicted, Castillo faces up to life in prison on each of the two charges. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.

The FBI’s Indianapolis Violent Crimes Task Force and Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. The Lawrence Police Department, the FBI’s Garrett Mountain Resident Agency Violent Crimes Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, the Passaic County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey provided valuable assistance and worked together to rescue the victim.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting 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

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

INDIANAPOLIS – Wayne Turner, 58, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device. Codefendant Isak Turner pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to 42 months in prison on February 16, 2022.

According to court documents, on December 20, 2019, Wayne, Isak and H.B., were at Wayne’s Indianapolis apartment near East Washington Street. Wayne assembled an improvised explosive device using various materials he kept at his apartment. Isak placed the explosive device in his backpack and the group traveled in H.B.’s car to Speedway, Indiana. They parked the car by the railroad tracks near the 1200 block of Olin Avenue, just south of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The group then walked to the railroad bridge over 16th Street towards the Speedway.

After they reached the bridge, Isak removed the device from the backpack asking H.B. to light it, but she refused. Instead, Isak ignited the device and threw it off the bridge. The device landed on the median of 16th Street and exploded. The destructive device caused a blast crater and visible damage to the railroad bridge and a bridge light fixture. The explosion and debris also damaged a vehicle passing under the bridge at the time, but the driver was unharmed.

Speedway Police Department officers responding to a report of an explosion observed Wayne, Isak, and H.B. walking on the bridge. Officers interviewed the group and executed a search warrant at Wayne’s apartment off East Washington Street. Investigators located materials used to make explosives inside Wayne’s apartment located in an occupied multi-unit building. Wayne and Isak were arrested. H.B. was not charged.  

The device assembled by Wayne and ignited and thrown off the 16th Street bridge by Isak, is defined in the National Firearms Act as a destructive device. It was not registered to Wayne or Isak in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.

Wayne was arrested and convicted in August 2016 of criminal recklessness in Marion County for similar conduct. On May 28, 2016, the night before the Indianapolis 500 race, Wayne detonated and threw an “M-80” style device over a fence onto Indianapolis Motor Speedway property sending people fleeing in panic. Wayne set off a second explosive device, next to a barricade on Georgetown Road, again causing panic and flight among pedestrians at the scene. At the time of the 2016 arrest, officers found Wayne, apparently intoxicated, and in possession of at least eight cylindrical explosive devices with ignitable wicks.  

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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; Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); and Chief Charles Upchurch of the Speedway Police Department made the announcement.

ATF, IMPD and Speedway Police Department investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Wayne and Isak Turner each be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following their release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney William McCoskey who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Derrick Hart, 22, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and commission of federal felony while on pretrial release.

According to court documents, on December 13, 2018, Hart walked up to J.S., who was sitting in his vehicle, parked at the 4200 block of North Franklin Road, in Lawrence, Indiana. Hart pointed a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun at J.S., took J.S.’s cell phone, and demanded money. J.S. told Hart he had no cash, only credit cards. Hart then demanded J.S.’s car keys and J.S. complied. Hart got in the passenger seat of the vehicle, and ordered J.S. at gunpoint, to drive to the Chase Bank ATM across the street.

J.S. saw a Brinks armored truck at the bank and attempted to get the driver’s attention by revving his car engine. The Brinks truck was servicing the ATM, so Hart ordered J.S. to drive to a different ATM, at 42nd Street. J.S. attempted to grab Hart’s handgun and in the process crashed his car into a fence on the edge of the bank. Hart got out of the vehicle, ran around the back of the car, and fired at J.S. striking him in the arm. J.S. returned fire with his own handgun, striking Hart, as he ran away toward an apartment complex, west of the Chase bank.

Responding officers found Hart nearby with a gunshot wound. Hart was carrying a spare magazine loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, several loose 9mm rounds, and a small quantity of marijuana on his person. Hart admitted to leaving the handgun near an apartment building, which police later located under a bush. The handgun was loaded, held a magazine loaded with 9mm cartridges, and had blood on its grip. The blood found on the handgun was linked to Hart through DNA analysis.

Hart committed the December 13, 2018, carjacking and shooting while he was on federal pretrial release for similar conduct. On September 26, 2018, Hart was charged by federal criminal complaint with attempted carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Before Hart was released from detention, he signed paperwork acknowledging that if he commits a federal felony offense while on pretrial release, he may be punished by up to ten years additional in prison. Hart signed the paperwork and was released. By December of 2018, Hart cut off his ankle monitor and absconded from pretrial release.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; R. Sean Fitzgerald, acting Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Office for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Gary Woodruff of the Lawrence Police Department made the announcement.

HSI, ATF and the Lawrence Police Department investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Hart be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William L. McCoskey and 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

TERRE HAUTE – Cameron Aue, 38, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced today to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in July of 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Vigo County Drug Task Force (VCDTF) were investigating Aue for selling methamphetamine in the Terre Haute area. On July 26, 2020, DEA and VCDTF learned Aue would be traveling to Indianapolis to purchase drugs for resale. Aue was arrested later that evening when he returned to his apartment. Aue granted officers permission to search his vehicle. During the search, officers located a backpack admittedly owned by Aue. The backpack contained 245 grams of methamphetamine and $1,000 in U.S. currency. Aue admitted to purchasing the methamphetamine in Indianapolis with the intent to re-sell it to individuals in Terre Haute during an interview with law enforcement.       

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office; and the Vigo County Drug Task Force made the announcement.

DEA and VCDTF investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Magnus-Stinson ordered that Aue be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson McGrath who is prosecuting the case.

INDIANAPOLIS – Charles Brady, 41, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on September 17, 2021, Brady was stopped in his vehicle by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers, and they discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A later search of his vehicle yielded a black 9mm Taurus G2c that Brady admitted to possessing. Brady is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including attempted robbery where the defendant tried to rob a victim by pointing a firearm in his face and threatening to shoot him. While serving the probation portion of his sentence for that case, Brady was convicted of another felony offense for dealing cocaine. Brady also has a prior felony conviction for Residential Entry after breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house after a court had issued a protective order against him.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

The IMPD investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Brady be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli 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.

Additionally, 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Tragejo Harris, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on April 29, 2021, officers responded to reports of a person firing multiple gunshots from a moving car in the vicinity of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood of Indianapolis. Police found a vehicle parked on the street that appeared to have been struck by multiple bullets. Harris’ girlfriend stated that she and her child were inside her home when Harris fired multiple shots at her parked car after an argument.

The next day, officers found Harris’s car at a gas station. When officers attempted to approach Harris, he fled and led police on a high-speed chase on the streets of Indianapolis exceeding speeds of 97 miles per hour. Officers lost sight of the vehicle after three miles.

On May 4, 2021, an undercover detective exchanged messages with Harris, who indicated that he planned to flee to Illinois. The detective, in an undercover capacity, arranged to meet Harris in person before he left town. On May 6, 2021, Harris arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location. Harris recognized police and fled by car again. Harris drove across a field, through a ditch, and onto Binford Boulevard at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Harris abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers found Harris hiding in a nearby building and arrested him. During an interview with police, Harris admitted to shooting his girlfriend’s car and fleeing from police. Harris also told police he had his four-year-old daughter in the car during the first police chase on April 30, 2021.

Harris lied to the police and claimed he sold the firearm used in the shooting. Police later located Harris’s gun under a potted plant near where Harris abandoned the vehicle after the second chase. That firearm matched the shell casings retrieved from the April 29th shooting at the car. Harris is a convicted felon who is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Harris was also on parole for armed robbery at the time of this offense.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

ATF and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. As part of the sentence, Judge Magnus-Stinson ordered that Harris be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa 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.

Additionally, 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Broden Burgess, 37, of Indianapolis was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on September 21, 2020, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call to check the welfare of a person at the Kroger grocery store located at 1365 East 86th Street in Indianapolis. Officers arrived and located Burgess, who appeared incoherent, in the parking lot. After further investigation, officers located a loaded black Ruger 9mm handgun in Burgess’s sweatshirt pocket.

Burgess is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including auto theft, burglary, and strangulation. Burgess also has a misdemeanor conviction for domestic battery, which resulted from him knocking an ex-girlfriend to the ground and choking her. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provided invaluable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson following Burgess’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Stinson ordered that Burgess be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton 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.

Additionally, 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

EVANSVILLE – Michael Dewayne Charles, 33, of Evansville, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to court documents, on September 26, 2021, a deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the Corner Pocket Bar in Evansville after a report that a suspect brandished a firearm in the parking lot. Upon arrival, the deputy observed Charles push another male against an SUV while brandishing a Kimbro 9mm handgun. Charles then fled from the deputy before being apprehended. Charles was interviewed by police and admitted he brandished the pistol while arguing with his cousin. The pistol was later found to have an obliterated serial number.

Charles is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions in Vanderburgh County, including sexual battery, burglary, and domestic battery. Because of his prior convictions, Charles is an Armed Career Criminal under federal law and subject to enhanced penalties for illegally possessing a firearm.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding made the announcement.

ATF and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following the defendant’s guilty plea.  As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

INDIANAPOLIS – Dariel Hill, 57, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on October 3, 2020, an officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) was flagged down by a witness near the area of East Michigan Street and North Sherman Drive in Indianapolis. The witness told the officer that there was a male, later identified as Hill, running down East Michigan Street firing gunshots at vehicles. 

The officer investigated and located Hill walking along East Michigan Street holding a black handgun. The officer exited his patrol car and ordered Hill to drop the handgun. Hill complied by throwing the gun in some nearby bushes. Once Hill was detained, the officer located a black .40 caliber Glock handgun in the bushes where Hill had tossed it.

The Glock was stolen. Upon further investigation, additional responding IMPD officers found several spent .40 caliber shell casings in the vicinity. The casings were located over a five-block, densely populated residential area. The casings were later determined to come from shots fired by Hill’s gun. Following these events, Hill was placed under arrest. Hill has twenty-four prior felony convictions, dating back to 1983. As a result of his criminal record, Hill knew he was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. 

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. 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 Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

ATF and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker following the defendant’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Barker ordered that Hill be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.