Southern District of Indiana

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John Childress announced today that Eric Middlebrook, 31, of Greenwood, Indiana, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Tanya W. Pratt for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine where children are present.

“Drug trafficking brings gun violence that Indianapolis and many other communities across the country are experiencing,” said Childress. “We remain committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to do our part in reducing the violence, getting drugs and weapons off the streets, and delivering justice for the people we serve.”

For several years, Middlebrook has been a suspect, victim, and witness in numerous violent crimes in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. He has also engaged in drug trafficking for several years in and around Indianapolis.

Investigators discovered that Middlebrook utilized several individuals to transport methamphetamine and other controlled substances from California to Indiana, which he would then redistribute in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. He used several different locations, including a rented storage unit to store and distribute the drugs and to store money and firearms.

After investigation, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at Middlebrooks home and rented self-storage unit. Agents located over 3700 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, several firearms, and over $40,000. At the time of the search of Middlebrooks home, three young children were also discovered living at the residence. 

This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

“ATF’s core mission is reducing violent gun crime in our community,” said Roland H. Herndon, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “Middlebrook was using firearms and threats of violence to further his drug trafficking operation, and clearly endangering the community, including children living in the same home. We are committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to follow the gun and remove the most violent criminals from our streets.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case for the government, Middlebrook must serve 7 years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s enduring commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, opioids, and synthetic opioids. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 3.3.

Evansville – Acting United States Attorney John Childress announced today that Cameron M. King, 25, of Evansville, Indiana was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.

King had pleaded guilty on October 14th, 2020 to a possession of a firearm by a felon and was later found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, after a two day jury trial on October 20th, 2020.

“Drug dealing is disruptive to the well-being of the citizens of Evansville and fuels much of the violence that occurs in this community,” said Childress. “Prosecuting convicted felons with long criminal histories who choose to illegally possess firearms and sell drugs will remain a priority of this office.”

On August 31, 2018, patrol officers with the Evansville Police Department observed Cameron King run through a stop sign and a stop light on a bicycle at night without a light on the front of the bike. King was stopped by the officers and was observed reaching into his waistband.  Officers ordered King to remain on his bicycle, but he got off the bike contrary to their request.

Officers approached King and conducted a pat down of King, which immediately resulted in the discovery of a loaded .45 caliber semi- automatic handgun in his waistband.

Officers discovered that King has a history of violent acts involving the use of a firearm. He had been convicted on two counts of felony criminal recklessness and a misdemeanor possession of a firearm in Vanderburgh County on May 2, 2014. That case involved two counts of attempted murder by shooting that were reduced to criminal recklessness.

 King also had been convicted of a felony possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm on May 11, 2018 in Muscogee County, Georgia. He was sentenced on that case and remains on probation after the supervision was transferred from Georgia to Vanderburgh County.

King was also found in possession of a digital scale, $312, and over 13 grams of cocaine that was broken down in six individual plastic baggies. The baggies were discovered in his sock at the jail.

While in custody for this case, King committed two more acts of violence. On June 1st, 2019, he punched the face and broke the nose of a White County Illinois jail guard. On July 8th, 2019, he punched a Henderson County Kentucky jail guard in the face and scratched the guard’s arm.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Miller and Todd Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case for the government, the defendant was also ordered to serve a term of 3 years supervised release upon being released from imprisonment.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s enduring commitment to investigating and prosecuting firearm and violent crime prosecutions. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 2.2.

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John Childress announced today that Ernie Perkins, 40, of Zionsville, and the owner of Remarkable Creative Enterprises (“RCE”), was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment in connection with his role in a massive, years-long fraud conspiracy that resulted in the theft of more than $8.4 million from a Pennsylvania based bank and a Pennsylvania based insurance company. Neither the bank nor the insurance company are being named because they are victims in this case.

The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Sara Evans Barker on January 5, 2021, marks the culmination of a years-long investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office and agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This significant investigative effort also yielded convictions and significant federal prison sentences for 5 other defendants. All were convicted of various charges related to the scheme, including theft by a bank employee, money laundering, mail fraud and tax evasion. At a series of hearings held late last year, Judge Barker sentenced the other defendants to significant prison terms for their respective roles in the schemes.

John L. Williams, 52, Zionsville, a former employee of the victim bank, 108 months imprisonment.

Robert Finch, 73, Indianapolis, owner of Finch Constructors and Finch Management, 48 months imprisonment.

Donald Landis, 59, Plainfield, owner of P&L Supply, 36 months imprisonment.

Walter Watson, 72, Detroit, Michigan, owner of W-3 construction company, 18 months imprisonment.

Shalonda Coleman, 45, Indianapolis, a former employee of the insurance company, 24 months imprisonment.

“White collar criminals are thieves who steal through position and influence,” said Childress. “White collar crime like tax evasion and money laundering ultimately effects all Hoosiers and this office is committed to aggressively prosecuting these fraudsters.”

As outlined in the lengthy indictment, Williams was employed as a construction project manager in the Indianapolis regional office of the victim bank. His responsibilities included overseeing the bank’s internal real estate projects in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana, including new bank branch construction and existing bank branch renovation projects.

In carrying out the scheme, Williams would use information available to him as a bank employee to identify construction and renovation projects that were projected to come in under budget. Williams would then contact Perkins, Finch, Watson, and Landis and instruct them to submit fraudulent invoices on those under-budget projects for work that was never performed and materials that were never supplied. Williams used his position at the bank and his oversight of the projects in question to approve payment of the fraudulent invoices. Once the bank paid the invoices, Perkins, Finch, Watson, and Landis would kick back a large percentage of the money to CB Consulting, a fictitious business entity controlled by Williams.

In many cases, the money passed through multiple bank accounts before reaching the bank account Williams set up for CB Consulting. Between November of 2009 and August of 2016, the defendants were responsible for submitting hundreds of fraudulent invoices to the victim bank and receiving and laundering more than $8.4 million in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.

Coleman and Perkins are also charged with using the U.S. Mail in a separate scheme to defraud a Pennsylvania-based insurance company and steal money. In those instances, Coleman used her position as a claims processor, and her access to the company’s computer systems, to cause the insurance company to mail checks to RCE. Coleman disguised the payments to RCE as payments for work performed for the company’s insurance clients, but no work was ever performed. Instead, Perkins would deposit the checks into RCE accounts and kick back a percentage of the money to Coleman.

Williams, Perkins, Finch, Landis and Watson were all convicted of theft and conspiring to launder the money stolen from the bank. Williams and Finch were separately convicted of engaging in a significant number of financial transactions in excess of $10,000 using the stolen funds. Those transactions included transfers to other bank accounts held by the defendants, including the bank accounts of Finch’s construction company, the construction of a residence for Williams’ family in Zionsville, Indiana, more than $100,000 in payments for a lavish wedding for Williams’ daughter, and the purchase of multiple automobiles. Williams and Colman were also convicted of tax evasion and filing false tax returns, respectively, for failing to report their receipt of stolen funds as income on their tax returns.

“Even if you use sophisticated means to steal millions of dollars, you are still a thief, and this sentence sends a clear message of the consequences of such greed,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The FBI will continue to work with the IRS and other law enforcement partners to focus our efforts on these white collar criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.”

“The license to run a business is not permission to use trusted business partners as an endless stream of free money,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu, of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “John Williams and his accomplices used their positions and access to the banking system to steal over $8 million from multiple businesses, as well as the honest, hardworking Americans who pay their tax obligations. The IRS is committed to aggressively investigating those individuals who engage in tax evasion, money laundering, and financial fraud.  Working with our partners at the Department of Justice, we will continue to investigate those who violate the tax laws,” said Cantu.

Bryan Musgrove, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division stated, “This investigation was an excellent example of a partnership between federal law enforcement agencies and the Southern District of Indiana U.S. Attorney’s Office. Together these partners brought down a complex, large-scale fraud conspiracy.  I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the law enforcement agencies involved. As a result of their hard work, six defendants in this case were brought to justice.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Rinka, who prosecuted this case for the government, the defendants were also ordered to pay millions of dollars in restitution and all six defendants were ordered to serve a term of federal supervised release upon release from their term of imprisonment.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s enduring commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in fraud and money laundering. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 5.1 and 5.4.

Evansville – The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the North Gibson School Corporation in Princeton, Indiana to address and prevent the discriminatory secluding and restraining of students with disabilities.

The agreement follows an investigation conducted under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into a complaint that the school district inappropriately secluded and restrained students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the district’s self-contained classrooms. The department’s investigation confirmed that students as young as five years old were secluded and restrained improperly and repeatedly, resulting in days, and sometimes weeks, of lost instructional time. The department also investigated allegations that the school district regularly and inappropriately sent these students home early from school, placed them on abbreviated school days, and assigned them to homebound instruction.

“Students with disabilities, like all students, belong in classrooms where they can learn – not locked away or otherwise segregated from their peers. When school districts improperly seclude or restrain students with disabilities, they inflict grievous harm on some of America’s most vulnerable children,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities need additional supports in the classroom, not practices that keep them out or subject them to isolation and trauma. We look forward to working with the North Gibson School Corporation as it implements this settlement agreement to provide students with disabilities equal access to education — a right guaranteed them by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

“We are better as a community when our schools serve all of our students” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Childress for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our schools should be places where all children have the best chance to learn and grow and this agreement is a significant step toward achieving that goal.”

The school district cooperated fully throughout the investigation, voluntarily suspended its use of seclusion rooms before the investigation was completed and agreed to take the steps outlined in today’s settlement agreement.

Under the settlement agreement, the school district will take proactive steps to ensure that its practices do not discriminate against students with disabilities. The district will, among other things: change its policies to prohibit use of seclusion rooms; report all instances of restraint and review whether they were justified; take steps to avoid placing students with emotional and behavioral disabilities on an abbreviated school day or homebound instruction and document those steps; create and implement a procedure for handling complaints of disability discrimination; provide appropriate training and resources to help schools implement the agreement; and appoint an Intervention Coordinator to ensure the district’s compliance with the agreement and Title II of the ADA.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the ADA. Enforcement of Title II of the ADA in schools is a priority of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at https://www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

Download NGSC Executed Agreement.pdf

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress announced today that the Southern District of Indiana collected $9,055,193.32 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2020. Of this amount, $2,195,355.91was collected in criminal actions and $6,859,837.41was collected in civil actions.

The Justice Department collected more than $15.9 billion in civil and criminal actions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 ending Sept. 30, 2020. The $15,988,516,670 in collections represents more than five times the approximately $3.2 billion appropriated budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department. The total includes all monies collected as a result of Justice Department-led enforcement actions and negotiated civil settlements. It includes more than $13.5 billion in payments made directly to the Justice Department, and more than $2.4 billion in indirect payments made to other federal agencies, states and other designated recipients.

“The Southern District of Indiana’s Civil Division and Asset Recovery Unit have some of the best federal prosecutors and support staff in the country,” said Childress. “They work tirelessly every day to protect Hoosiers and their resources. Returning over $9 million to the victims of these criminal and civil cases is very satisfying. This office is committed to enforcing federal laws and holding those accountable who choose to do harm to our citizens.”

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.            The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Indiana, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $7,879,734 asset forfeiture actions in FY 2020. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to enforcing the collection of criminal impositions and civil debts owed to the United States to maximize recoveries to the United States Treasury and to victims of crime. 

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress is pleased to announce that Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) federal grant dollars have been awarded to state and local government agencies for violent-crime reduction programs, which include community engagement, prevention and reentry efforts. PSN grants monies may be used for criminal justice-related initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contracted support, information systems, research and evaluation.

“These funds will offer opportunities for community members and organizations to partner with state and local law enforcement and government agencies to help reduce gun-related violence,” said Childress. “We are grateful for the City of Lawrence, Lawrence Police Department, City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indianapolis Marion County Forensic Services Agency, and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, for their thoughtful and innovative efforts to help drive down the violence.”

LAUNDRY and MORE

The City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Police Department were awarded $27,000 for an initiative called Laundry and More. Along with their community partners, Servants of Christ Luther Church, they are serving the area around 42nd Street and Post Rd where the community has high crime but is also highly underserved. While the funding is directed at covering the cost of laundry services, it has also served as a mechanism to help law enforcement build relationships and start meaningful dialogue with citizens who typically are afraid to approach or even speak with an officer. Over 162 families have been served so far, with over 1,000 loads of laundry completed at no cost. People are also being connected with other resources in the area, such as jobs, food pantries, and civil servants.

“This initiative goes beyond getting laundry done for residents and their families,” said Lawrence Police Deputy Chief Curtis Bigsbee. “This project offers the opportunity for true community interaction with participants in a non-traditional environment for representatives from the City of Lawrence, the police department, and all of our community partners.” Deputy Chief Bigsbee concluded.

RightFit

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) was awarded $48,673 to help increase their level of participation with this public safety initiative. The RightFit programming allows officers to meet regularly with inner city youth participants and focus on building relationships. These relationships will allow children to see that police officers are people they can trust, and they can go to them if they are in trouble or knows someone who may need help.

The after-school program encourages academic growth, fun physical activity, and a nutritious meal, which is all provided in an environment of courtesy and respect. The goal is to stabilize communities, enhance academic participation and achievement, improve the health of students, identify education and career options, and create an atmosphere of cooperation across the community.

“Combating crime in Indianapolis is a team effort—it takes partners at the federal, state, and local level to increase public safety and reduce gun violence,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Through enhanced coordination, we can effectively invest in and transform neighborhoods across our city. The programs funded by Project Safe Neighborhoods are strong examples of how collaboration can lead to better outcomes for residents.”

“Community partnerships are key to impacting violence in our neighborhoods, and the IMPD is grateful for this opportunity to build relationships with our city’s youth that break down barriers of mistrust and lead to a safer Indianapolis,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “Thank you to Acting U.S. Attorney Childress for this impactful funding, and to RightFit for their partnership.”

The following agencies were also awarded federal PSN grant money:

• City of Indianapolis - $30,500 for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design training program.
• Indiana Law Enforcement Academy - $8,473 for their Community Outreach Initiative.
• Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services - $93,378 for their Gun Crime Reduction Initiative.
• Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department - $188,394 for a PSN data enhancement program.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Domash in coordination with Marshall Depew of IMPD lead the PSN Task Force effort in the Southern District of Indiana.   

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress announced today that Cristian Gutierrez-Alvarez, 26, Michoacan, Mexico was sentenced to 295 months in federal prison today following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.

“Drug dealing fuels the majority of violence and social devastation that is occurring in Indianapolis,” said Childress. “Those who choose to ignore our drug laws can expect to face the full force of federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The impactful investigative work done by our federal, state and local partners is to be commended.”

In late February 2018, federal agents initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by Cristian Gutierrez-Alvarez. This organization distributed controlled substances in the Indianapolis and Medford, Oregon areas. This poly drug organization was distributing multi-pound quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from sources of supply in Mexico, California and Oregon.

On January 18, 2019, 15 federal search warrants from this investigation were executed. As a result, 25 federal arrests and multiple state arrests throughout Indiana and Oregon were made as well as the seizure of approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine, over a kilogram of heroin, fifteen ounces of cocaine, approximately forty pounds of marijuana, twenty firearms, approximately $20,000, and 15 vehicles.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Drug Task Force, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“The 295 month sentencing of Mr. Gutierrez-Alvarez was just and necessary for the fine citizens of Indianapolis and our surrounding communities,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon. “Individuals like Gutierrez-Alvarez must be held accountable for their actions, especially when they are dealing debilitating drugs, such as heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. The DEA is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and arrest drug traffickers such as Gutierrez-Alvarez and keep our communities safe.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley A. Blackington, who prosecuted the case for the government, Gutierrez-Alvarez will be deported to Mexico following the completion of his prison sentence.

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.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to increase prosecution of transnational drug trafficking organizations affecting the District while reducing the supply of heroin and methamphetamine to the District. 

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress announced today that Daniel R. Fruits, 46, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged by a federal grand jury for his alleged role in three separate fraud schemes, including a nearly $14 million fraud on an investor, an attempted mortgage fraud, and a vehicle title-washing scheme.

“This financial investor gave his hard-earned money to someone whom he thought he could trust,” said Childress. “Instead, the victim’s money ended up in the hands of a self-absorbed thief who only cared about his interests. Living a life of fraud is inexcusable and always comes to an end.”

The Indictment alleges that Fruits defrauded a Kentucky investor, who was also Fruits employer, out of nearly $14 million. In 2015, the investor founded a trucking company, Secure Transit, and hired Fruits to run it. Over the next four-and-a-half years, the investor would invest approximately $14 million in the business.

Throughout that time, Fruits repeatedly lied about the company’s financial health, who its customers were, and what the money invested was being used for. On multiple occasions, Fruits allegedly sent the investor fictitious customer sales contracts and falsified financial statements that reported inflated company profits. At the same time, Fruits allegedly asked the investor for additional investments, sometimes in the millions of dollars, purportedly for the purchase of trucks or other business expenses.

Fruits spent a significant portion of the money on his own personal purchases and payments. He allegedly spent approximately $880,000 to purchase a horse farm and his personal residence, $560,000 on an RV and trailer, over $111,000 on a Corvette, approximately $90,000 on three Rolex watches, approximately $55,000 on a horse, $33,000 on a horse trailer, $23,000 on payments for two Ferraris, and $30,000 on payments for two escorts.

In addition to the fraud on the investor, Fruits attempted to perpetrate a mortgage fraud scheme on Fifth Third Bank. Specifically, in late 2018, Fruits made false statements to Fifth Third Bank to secure a $432,000 mortgage. He twice submitted falsified paperwork purporting to show that loans from another bank had been paid off, when they had not been.

Finally, Fruits perpetrated a title-washing scheme to remove a bank’s lien from the title of a truck he purchased. He financed the truck with a loan from Ally Financial for over $69,000.  Several months later, he sent the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles a falsified letter purportedly from Ally Financial stating that the loan had been paid off and the lien should be released.

The loan had not been paid off and Ally Financial never wrote that letter. As a result, the BMV issued Fruits a free-and-clear title for the truck, which Fruits then sold for $48,000, without repaying the loan to Ally Financial.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

“This indictment sends a strong message that the FBI will aggressively investigate those who commit such extensive financial fraud and steal from their employer to pad their own pockets to fund a lavish lifestyle,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always pursue those who take advantage of others through illegal and criminal behavior.”

"The IRS enforces the nation's tax laws, but also takes particular interest in cases where someone, for their own personal benefit and greed, has taken what belongs to others,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu, of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “With our agent’s financial investigation expertise, we followed the money and helped to unravel the fraud and deceit conducted by Mr. Fruits. We are pleased with the successful resolution of this investigation due to the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partner and the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Indiana.”

An indictment is a set of allegations and is not itself evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In November of 2020, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress renewed a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting complex, long-running fraud schemes. 

Indianapolis – Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress announced today that the Department of Justice has recognized the Community Violence Intervention Program in Indianapolis for Outstanding Innovative Prevention/Reentry Strategy in support of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative.

“This program and the group who has worked so hard for its success are worthy of recognition,” said Childress. “They saw a need, developed a plan, and have seen some promising results for those on probation who desire to choose a different path in their community.”

“The Community Violence Intervention Program is a proven approach to reduce violence in neighborhoods,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Director of Community Violence Reduction Shonna Majors and IMPD leadership has worked with partners and stakeholders across the city to lead on this important initiative. Thanks to their efforts, Indianapolis has a more focused, more effective strategy to reduce violence and get at-risk individuals the help they need.”

Project Safe Neighborhood: Community Violence Intervention (PSN: CVI) program focuses on individuals currently on probation who have been linked to gun crimes and non-fatal shootings within Indianapolis. The program, which focuses on a small group of individuals (between 10-20 participants), provides participants with resources intended to reduce recidivism.

The program started as a result of the United States Attorney’s Office through the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, reaching out to the Marion County Probation Office, the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The theme for the PSN: CVI presentation is “we want you alive, safe and successful.”  Thus, the program allows participants to engage with resource partners who aid with job placement, vocational training, transportation assistance, education, and mental health counseling. The program also includes information about the legal consequences that can occur if the individuals stay on the path they currently are on. However, the goal of this program is to steer individuals towards the resource partners and prevent recidivism. The participation with the resource partners is encouraged but voluntary. During the program, the probationers hear from the Mayor’s Office, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, The United States Attorney’s Office, and local resource partners who are provided through the Mayor’s Office.

PSN: CVI is conducted at locations in various neighborhoods around the city of Indianapolis. The neighborhoods are chosen based on their high levels of gun violence. PSN: CVI began on March 14, 2019. The group decided to conduct meetings quarterly, and always in the evening to ensure that as many members of the community as possible can attend. This year the group has only had one virtual meeting due to the current pandemic. The group plans to meet virtually until they can safely meet in person.

The program has already produced results: Thus far, the participants’ violations have been minimal, and several participants have taken advantage of the resources that have been offered through the program. That’s why the theme of PSN: CVI, enumerated at each meeting, is stark: “We want you alive, safe, and successful”.

The following are the individual that have created the Project Safe Neighborhood: Community Violence Intervention Program in Indianapolis:

• Peter Blackett- United States Attorney’s Office
• Jennifer Joy- Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
• Shonna Majors- Indianapolis Mayor’s Office
• Megan Durbin- Marion County Probation Office
• Christine Kerl- Marion County Probation Office
• Sandra Bryan- Marion County Probation Office
• Matthew Thomas- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
• Michael Wolley- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

 

Revitalized in 2017, PSN is a critical piece of the Department of Justice crime reduction efforts. PSN has focused on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Indianapolis – The U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and six other federal law enforcement agencies announced the completion of the third annual Money Mule Initiative, a coordinated operation to disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes. Money mules are individuals who assist fraudsters by receiving money from victims of fraud and forwarding it to the fraud organizers, many of whom are located abroad. Some money mules know they are assisting fraudsters, but others are unaware that their actions enable fraudsters’ efforts to swindle money from consumers, businesses, and government unemployment funds.

Over the last two months, U.S. law enforcement agencies took action against over 2,300 money mules, far surpassing last year’s effort, which acted against over 600 money mules. This year, actions occurred in every state in the country. The initiative announced today targeted money mules involved in a wide range of schemes including lottery fraud, romance scams, government imposter fraud, technical support fraud, business email compromise or CEO fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. Many of these schemes target elderly or vulnerable members of society.

 “Money mules fuel fraud against some of America’s most vulnerable populations. Without the help of these money mules, many foreign fraud enterprises find it difficult to profit off of U.S. victims,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “As this initiative demonstrates, the Department of Justice is committed to disrupting money mule networks, taking actions against more money mules this year than ever before, in an effort to cut off the flow of funds from American consumers and businesses to transnational criminal organizations.”

Eight federal law enforcement agencies participated in this year’s effort. Led by the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the participating agencies include the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372- 8311). This U.S. 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 hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

To find public education materials, as well as information about how fraudsters use and recruit money mules, please visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler was joined today by Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore, Kokomo Police Chief Doug Stout, and DEA Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Gannon, to recognize five current and former Kokomo Police Officers and their outstanding work with federal agents on dismantling a large drug ring in Kokomo.

“This was a complicated case with many moving parts,” said Minkler. “But the work of these outstanding officers paid off, and the streets of Kokomo are much safer because of it. Each of them worked hand in hand with our federal law enforcement partners to hold the accused accountable and provide justice to the citizens of Kokomo. It is a privilege for me to work daily with law enforcement officers and federal agents from across this great state. I see time and time again the dedication that officers, and their federal partners commit to the many cases that we prosecute. So, I am grateful that I can recognize their work today, and I encourage all citizens to recognize the efforts of our police officers, and to thank them whenever the opportunity presents itself.”

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “Operation Law and Order was a huge success and a big win for the fine citizens of Kokomo and the surrounding area. The exceptional investigative work done by the Kokomo Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, prevented a murder for hire plot and dismantled the most violent drug trafficking organization operating in Kokomo. Reggie Balentine, Michael Jones, Michael O’Bannon, Pierre Riley, and others utilized violence, fear and intimidation to fuel their illicit drug trafficking. Their lengthy prison sentences will allow the citizens of Kokomo to sleep better and puts all drug dealers on notice that DEA and their state, local and federal counterparts will utilize all resources available to hold violent offenders accountable.”

“Recognition for IRS Criminal Investigation’s work with the United States Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations only solidifies the importance of our work and these partnerships”, said Tamera Cantu, IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Field Office. “IRS-CI was proud to contribute our financial expertise to this investigation which has had a direct impact on the safety of the Kokomo community.” 

U.S. Attorney Minkler presented the Kokomo Police Department with a large engraved plaque with the officer’s names and their accomplishment. Each officer also received a United States Attorney Award certificate and an Officer Appreciation Certificate from the DEA.

Those honored today included:

• Captain Shane Melton, Kokomo Police Department
• Captain Austin McClain, Kokomo Police Department
• Lieutenant Zach Rodman, Kokomo Police Department
• Officer Derek Root, Fishers Police Department
• Cody Rayls

During the investigation, agents seized approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin, 122 grams of fentanyl, $37,000 in drug proceeds and 24 firearms. Throughout the conspiracy, many of the conspirators possessed firearms in relation to their drug trafficking activities, in order to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds. Investigators were also able to arrest two hitmen that were hired by the organization to travel from Atlanta, Georgia to Kokomo to murder a Kokomo resident.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Kokomo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Brady successfully prosecuted this case for the government.

The last defendant to be sentenced, Pierre Riley, 52, Macon, Georgia was sentenced on November 6th, 2020 to 490 months in federal prison and must serve five years supervised release after serving his prison sentence.

The other defendants and their sentences:

• Reggie M. Balentine,43, Kokomo, IN, 504 months federal prison
• Michael O’Bannon, 36, Kokomo, IN, 450 months federal prison
• Michael Jones, 38, 420 months federal prison
• Jason Reed, 46, Kokomo, IN, 420 months federal prison
• Shuan Myers, 38, Kokomo, IN 300 months federal prison
• Perry O. Jones, 45, Kokomo, IN, 260 months federal prison
• Derrick Owens, 39, Terre Haute, IN, 235 months federal prison
• Deshoun Everhart, 42, Warsaw, IN, 168 months federal prison
• Thomas Jones, 25 Kokomo, IN, 135 months federal prison
• Antwon Abbott, 41, Kokomo, IN, 121 months federal prison
• Kristin Kinney, 41, Kokomo, IN, 60 months federal prison
• Melissa Baird, 41, Kokomo, IN, 60 months federal prison
• Patricia Acord, 61, Kokomo, IN, 46 months federal prison
• Bradley Clark, 37, Kokomo, IN, 37 months federal prison
• Diondre Jones, 47, Indianapolis, IN, 177 months federal prison
   

This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute organizations that distribute methamphetamine and or heroin. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 3.1 and 3.3)

Evansville – Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Evansville Police Officer Phillip Smith was a recipient of the Fourth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing. This year 23 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country were recognized for their exceptional work.

The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. This year, the department received 214 nominations recognizing a total of 355 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.

“There is no career nobler than that of a police officer, and the 23 officers we honor this year demonstrate that clearly,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “These individuals are distinguished in their service for field operations and criminal investigations – from investigating homicides to drug trafficking to sexual exploitation and assault – to making positive change in their communities through innovative outreach to residents. Their actions are a testament to what law enforcement officers contribute to our nation each day, keeping us safe from violent crime and building more trusting communities, and they are deserving of our collective thanks. I am pleased to honor these 23 officers for their distinguished service in policing.”

“Congratulations to Officer Phillip Smith and the entire Evansville Police Department,” said Minkler. “Officer Smith has garnered the respect of the community and now the country through the way he serves the citizen he has sworn to protect. He has set an example for all officers across Indiana and the county on how they too can make a positive impact on the communities they serve. Job well done sir."

“There isn’t an Officer out there more deserving of this award than Phil Smith,” said Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin. “Through his infectious personality, he leaves a trail of laughter and smiles wherever he goes. He is not only an asset to the Evansville Police Department but to the entire profession of law enforcement.”

The Department of Justice works closely with local law enforcement and strives to be a ready resource for them. The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing is just one more way the department can show its continued commitment to the profession and honor the men and women who so bravely serve it.

INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING

Officer Philip Smith, Evansville Police Department

Officer Philip Smith is the symbol of community policing in Evansville, Indiana, where he serves as the special project’s coordinator for the Evansville Police Department. His community outreach efforts have put a human face on the badge, and his efforts have encouraged the public to work with the police and the police to have an ally in the public. Smith runs the department’s Facebook page, which now has 45,000 subscribers – in a city of 117,000. His social media activity includes weekly videos celebrating different officers and community members, and photos of police and kids on department-sponsored trips to theme parks. He also helped create the department’s breast cancer awareness fundraiser and established a program where salons and barbershops host officers for informal chats with their patrons. All this community outreach has meant that when the department now has to explain an officer involved shooting, or asks the public for help in recognizing a criminal, there is a community now pre-disposed to understand and work with the department more than ever before.

Information on the other recipients can be found on the national release at the following link: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-honors-law-enforcement-officers-and-deputies-fourth-annual-attorney

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler has announced his resignation as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana effective, November 21st, 2020. Starting November 23rd, 2020, Josh plans on joining a private law firm in the Indianapolis area.

“Josh Minkler is a devoted public servant who has served the country and the citizens of the Southern District of Indiana with distinction,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “I thank him for his service, leadership and integrity and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

"Josh Minkler has earned praise from people of all political persuasions who are working to keep our cities and our state safe,” said Indiana Senator Todd Young. “I congratulate Josh on his outstanding career in public service, and I wish him the best."

“Josh Minkler has served Indiana well for more than two decades — first as an Assistant United States Attorney, then as my First Assistant and, most recently, as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “He is a man of integrity and ethics, proving time and time again that his commitment to our community was paramount in his decision-making and leadership. I want to thank him for his service and wish him well in this next chapter of his career.”

U.S. Attorney Minkler was appointed by President Trump as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. Minkler was sworn in as the current United States Attorney on October 10, 2017.

Prior to the Presidential appointment, Minkler was appointed by former Attorney General Holder to serve as United States Attorney in February of 2015. Later, in June of 2015, Minkler was unanimously appointed to serve as United States Attorney by the District Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Prior to his first appointment as United States Attorney, Minkler served as First Assistant United States Attorney for former United States Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett. Minkler also served as Drug and Violent Crimes Unit Chief, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division since 1994.

Before joining the office, he was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Kent County, Michigan. A native of Muncie, Indiana, Minkler graduated Wabash College in 1985 and Indiana University Mauer School of Law in 1988.

Effective November 22nd, 2020, First Assistant United States Attorney John Childress will succeed Minkler as Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that agencies in the Southern District of Indiana were awarded more than $5.6 million in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

“One of the fundamental missions of government is to protect its citizens and safeguard the rule of law,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to meet this critical responsibility by doing everything within its power to help our state, local and tribal law enforcement and criminal justice partners fight crime and deliver justice on behalf of all Americans.”

“Recent data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI suggests a drop in crime and serious victimization for the third straight year,” said Minkler. “But even with this encouraging news, we find cities like Indianapolis experiencing an unacceptable increase in homicides. These funds will help in the fight against violent crime and improve assistance to victims, community engagement, prevention, and reentry efforts.”

Of the more than $458 million awarded nationwide, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support a broad range of initiatives, including efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded more than $10 million across 24 jurisdictions to intervene in and suppress youth gang activity as well as $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to continue operating the National Gang Center. OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded $7.8 million to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics provided more than $69 million to strengthen the quality and accessibility of records within the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The following organizations in Indiana received funding:

• County of Vanderburgh $587,726                                 

     Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Violent Crime by Improving Justice System Performance

• City of Indianapolis $250,000                                  

     Operation Legend

• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute/Indiana Supreme Court, Office of Technology $1,425,879

     NICS Act Record Improvement Program
 

• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute/Indiana State Police $3,000,000

     National Criminal History Improvement Program

• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute $364,038

     Project Safe Neighborhoods

 

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

New Albany – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women featured grant and grant recipient.

The Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program 

The Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12421. The program's purpose is to increase and strengthen training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; provide or enhance services for older victims; create or support multidisciplinary collaborative community responses to older victims; and conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving older victims.

The Judiciary Courts of the State of Indiana (JCSI) through a collaboration among the Bedford Police and Mitchell Police Departments, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Lawrence County, Hoosier Hills PACT, Hoosier Uplands, and the Solutions Center will develop a multidisciplinary approach to addressing elder abuse in their community.

Project partners will provide training opportunities to assist law enforcement, prosecutors, governmental agencies, victim assistants, and relevant officers of federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local courts in recognizing, addressing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of elder abuse; provide or enhance services for victims of elder abuse; create or support multidisciplinary collaborative community responses to victims of elder abuse; and conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, who are 50 years of age or older.

JCSI and its partners will also engage in a review of their policies and protocols and agree to put in place a body of policies and protocols, based on multi-disciplinary collaboration, designed to aid in improving in the identification, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of cases of elder abuse, exploitation and neglect, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

For more information about this grant, contact the Office on Violence Against Women at 202/307-6026 and ask for the Outreach and Communications Division.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women featured grant and grant recipient.

“This year, we provided STOP grants to 46 organizations in Indiana,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “This funding will go a long way to shore up our criminal justice system and works to, not only hold offenders accountable, but also help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault navigate the legal system.”

STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program 

The STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Formula Grant Program) was authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community-based, culturally specific services, in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

For more information about this grant, contact the Office on Violence Against Women at 202/307-6026 and ask for the Outreach and Communications Division.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Tiffany Preston will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Preston has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Indiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said Minkler. “The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Minkler stated that AUSA/DEO Preston will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 317-452-0242 or 317-229-2401.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 317-595-4000.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” said Minkler. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

Evansville – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women featured grant and grant recipient.

“To date, we have been able to help 142 victims and their children have peace of mind with safe supervised visits and exchanges,” said Judge Mary Margaret Lloyd, of the Vanderburgh Superior Court. “More than 1,600 victims have obtained help with their protection orders, navigating the court system, and obtaining referrals to local agencies to give them further aid. Twenty- seven family cases have had guardian ad litems represent the child of a domestic violence victim in court on custody or visitation issues. Our appreciation to the Justice for Families Program for allowing us to continue our work providing these services to the children and victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and stalking is immense.”

Justice for Families Program 

The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as the Justice for Families Program) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.

 The program supports the following activities for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents; training for people who work with families in the court system; civil legal services; and the provision of resources in juvenile court matters. Projects supported by the Justice for Families Program are those that focus on keeping victims and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable.

Vanderburgh County Superior Court and its Collaborative Partners

Vanderburgh County Superior Court and its collaborative partners, Parenting Time Center, Albion Fellows Bacon Center, YWCA, CASA, Holly’s House, Amends Program of Evansville, Legal Aid Society of Evansville, and multiple law enforcement agencies, will use this continuation award to:

1. Continue to provide supervised child visitation and safe exchange services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, and stalking;
2. Continue to provide services of the Protective Order Assistance Office to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, and stalking;
3. Continue to provide trained guardian ad litems to represent the children of domestic violence victims in their visitation and custody cases; and
4. To provide training within the civil justice system to gain awareness of victim safety issues and barriers that victims face when accessing the justice system.                                                                                                                          

 

For more information about this grant, contact the Office on Violence Against Women at 202/307-6026 and ask for the Outreach and Communications Division.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women featured grant and grant recipient.

“We know that the sooner we can assist survivors in finding housing in combination with supportive case management, we increase their sustainability for a violence free future,” said Lisa Shafran, President, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. “We are thrilled to have received a renewal of this grant which will only increase our capacity to serve those in need.”

Transitional Housing Assistance Grant for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault Program 

The Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking (Transitional Housing Program) supports programs that provide 6-24 months of transitional housing with support services for victims who are homeless or in need of transitional housing as a result of a situation of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, and for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient. The program can fund transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and voluntary support services for recipients of transitional housing, including counseling, childcare, transportation, and life skills, educational and/or job training.

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services is a non-profit organization located in Columbus, Indiana that has provided victim services since 1975. The 25-bed Emergency Shelter serves a six-county area including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson, and Shelby counties.

Through this grant, the organization will provide 60 clustered, and scattered-site residences for 60 survivors and their families through program-owned and private landlord housing units. Turning Point Domestic Violence Services will collaborate with its partner, the Family Service, Incorporated to provide a holistic, victim-centered, and multidisciplinary approach to transitional housing needs in the community.

This continuation project will use funds to provide both housing and supportive services to move survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are homeless to permanent housing. The project will assist clients for an anticipated minimum of 6 months and a maximum length of 24 months.

Services offered will focus on meeting the needs of the underserved Latino, Spanish-speaking, immigrant, deaf, disabled, rural, LGBTQ and substance abuse survivor population in the region. The grant activities will be tailored to meet the needs of the clients.

The range of optional support services include: rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, support groups, individual counseling, job training, education attainment, limited legal assistance, substance abuse services, court accompaniment, and housing advocacy. The project will also provide follow-up services for at least three months once permanent housing is secured.

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services 24/7 Crisis/Helpline can be reached at 1-800-221-6311

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana will be honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month during October. Each week, the office will highlight specific Department of Justice grants that have been awarded to various agencies throughout the southern district to help combat domestic violence. The office is providing all employees with information and training on domestic violence issues within the district, and later on in the month employees will be volunteering at a community service project to benefit Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School.

“Domestic violence is such a devastating crime that reaches every area of society,” said Minkler. “The abuse comes in many forms and is directed toward every sex, culture, race, and religion. This office will continue to prosecute those who choose to inflict pain and suffering on innocent victims and we intend to bring awareness to this critical issue during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”

The United States Attorney reaffirms the office’s commitment to prosecuting and preventing gun crime at the hands of domestic abusers. Some notable cases include:

• United States v. Brian Jones, Case No. 19-cr-258: Law enforcement responded to a 911 call for help. When they arrived at the Indianapolis location, the victim told them Brian Jones, her ex-boyfriend, broke into her house, pointed a gun at her and her minor children and threatened to kill them all. Upon arrest, law enforcement found a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun on Jones. A criminal history check revealed that Jones had eight prior felony convictions and was on supervised release for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon out of the Southern District of Ohio. On August 7, 2020, Jones, an Ohio resident, was convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment.
   
• United States v. Mauro Martinez-Diaz, Case No. 19-cr-49: Law enforcement responded to a domestic violence call. When they arrived at the Indianapolis location, the victim stated that Martinez-Diaz had returned from a party and became upset when she refused to cook food for him. She reported that the defendant then choked her, dragged her around the apartment by her hair, and kicked her with his feet while she was on the floor. Upon arrest, law enforcement found a loaded .40 semiautomatic handgun on the defendant. Martinez-Diaz, who is a citizen of Mexico and was found to be in the U.S. illegally, was indicted on February 20, 2019, for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Illegally or Unlawfully in the United States. 

 

• United States v. Calvin Washington, Case No. 20-cr-236: Law enforcement responded to a domestic violence call. After they arrived at the Indianapolis location, Washington fled, discarding a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun in a kitchen trash can and throwing an 8-month-old baby to the ground. He was apprehended shortly thereafter. Washington, a resident of Indianapolis, was indicted on September 23, 2020, for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month first began in 1981 as a day of unity by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which quickly evolved into a full week. Then in 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Week took place. In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act, which combined new provisions that hold offenders accountable and provide programs and services for victims.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.

The CDC reports:

• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 12 men have experienced contact sexual violence by an intimate partner.
• 10% of women and 2% of men report having been stalked by an intimate partner.

 

If you are in crisis, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) TTY 1-800-787-3224 or www.TheHotline.org

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Levi Alexander Walters, 28, Westport, Ind., was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

“To uncover evidence that a man you trusted, entered your child’s bedroom, and preyed upon her innocence while she tried to sleep is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Minkler.  “Bringing that perpetrator to justice is an essential part of restoring that child’s belief that there are still good adults who will protect her.”

The investigation into Walters’ conduct began when the child victim’s mother called police to report that she found videos on Walters’ phone, showing Walters engaged in sexual conduct with her child, who was younger than 10 years old. Deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office responded to the victim’s residence and were met with a very volatile situation. Walters had obtained two firearms and threatened to commit suicide after the child’s mother found evidence of the abuse and began calling police. The deputies were able to place Walters in custody, ensuring the immediate safety of the victim and her mother.

The Indiana State Police Cyber Crime Unit were requested to conduct an examination of Walters’ cell phone. The examination revealed numerous videos and images depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police.

“This type of behavior will not be condoned in Bartholomew County,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Major Chris Lane. “Our focus is always on the victim in these types of cases; we want to always be sure they get the justice and the compassion they deserve.”

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

“This sentence should put child predators around the state on notice that the FBI and our law enforcement partners do not tolerate child exploitation in Indiana,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “We will use every technique in our arsenal to unmask you and hold you accountable for your criminal activity.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Kristina Korobov, who prosecuted this case for the government, said Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson also sentenced Walters to an additional 15 years of supervised release following his federal prison sentence, and ordered him to pay over $10,000 in restitution to the minor victim.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute those who exploit and harm children or other vulnerable victims. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 4.1 and 4.2)

INDIANAPOLIS – Acting United States Attorney John Childress and Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Indiana returned an indictment charging a former Indiana state senator and gaming executive with violations of federal campaign finance laws, false statements, and falsification of records, for making illegal corporate contributions and conduit contributions to fund the congressional campaign of the former state politician.

Darryl Brent Waltz, 47, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions, false statements and to obstruct justice, one count of making and receiving conduit contributions, one count of obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements related to a scheme to route contributions through conduit donors to his 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.

John S. Keeler, 71, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make illegal corporate contributions, false statements and to obstruct justice, one count of making illegal corporate contributions, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of making false statements related to a scheme to make corporate contributions to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.

According to the indictment, Waltz, a former Indiana state senator, was a candidate in the 2016 primary election for the office of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Ninth District of Indiana. Keeler, the vice president and general counsel of what was then known as New Centaur, LLC arranged with Kelley Rogers, a Maryland-based political consultant for the 2016 Waltz congressional campaign, to cause New Centaur, LLC to transfer thousands of dollars from its accounts to Rogers, who then contributed that money to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign.

To conceal the true nature of the payments as illegal corporate contributions, Keeler and Rogers agreed that Rogers would create phony invoices and agreements that purported to reflect services to be performed for New Centaur, LLC, by Rogers. Upon receiving the payments from New Centaur, LLC, Rogers recruited several straw donors, including Waltz, to each contribute $2,700 to Waltz’s campaign, the maximum permitted under federal law at the time. The straw donors were reimbursed by Rogers using the money from New Centaur, LLC.

Rogers also transferred a large portion of the New Centaur, LLC money to Waltz, who recruited additional straw donors to each donate $2,700 to his campaign. Waltz either reimbursed or paid these straw donors in advance. Waltz and Keeler concealed these illegal contributions from campaign officials, causing them to unwittingly file materially false reports with the Federal Election Commission.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Gullotta and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Brad Shepard and MaryAnn Mindrum of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

A federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Indiana returned an indictment charging a former Indiana state senator and a gaming executive with violations of federal campaign finance laws, false statements, and falsification of Federal Election Campaign (FEC) records in connection with a series of illegal corporate contributions and conduit contributions they made to fund the congressional campaign of the former state politician.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress of the Southern District of Indiana, and Acting Assistant Director James A. Dawson of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement. 

Darryl Brent Waltz, 47, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions, false statements and to falsify FEC records, one count of making and receiving conduit contributions, one count of falsifying FEC records, and two counts of making false statements related to a scheme to route contributions through conduit donors to his 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law. 

John S. Keeler, 71, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make illegal corporate contributions, false statements and to falsify FEC records, one count of making illegal corporate contributions, one count of falsification of FEC records, and one count of making false statements related to a scheme to make corporate contributions to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.

According to the indictment, Waltz, a former Indiana state senator, was a candidate in the 2016 primary election for the office of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Ninth District of Indiana.  Keeler, the vice president and general counsel of what was then known as New Centaur LLC arranged with Kelley Rogers, a Maryland-based political consultant for the 2016 Waltz congressional campaign, to cause New Centaur LLC to transfer thousands of dollars from its accounts to Rogers, who then contributed that money to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign.  To conceal the true nature of the payments as illegal corporate contributions, Keeler and Rogers agreed that Rogers would create phony invoices and agreements that purported to reflect services to be performed for New Centaur LLC, by Rogers.  Upon receiving the payments from New Centaur LLC, Rogers recruited several straw donors, including Waltz, to each contribute $2,700 to Waltz’s campaign, the maximum permitted under federal law at the time.  The straw donors were reimbursed by Rogers using the money from New Centaur LLC.  Rogers also transferred a large portion of the New Centaur LLC money to Waltz, who recruited additional straw donors to each donate $2,700 to his campaign.  Waltz either reimbursed or paid these straw donors in advance.  Waltz and Keeler concealed these illegal contributions from campaign officials, causing them to unwittingly file materially false reports with the Federal Election Commission.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  It merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Gullotta and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Brad Shepard and MaryAnn Mindrum of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.  Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Bruce Wayne Ford, 47, New Palestine, Indiana, has been charged with eleven counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

“The financial investors in this case placed their hard earned money into the hands of someone whom they thought they could trust, oftentimes the majority of their life savings,” said Minkler. “Instead, the victim’s money fell into the hands of a thief who cares about no one but himself and his interests. Justice will prevail and hopefully restore some trust back to the victims.”

Ford, was arrested at his home Friday, September 11, 2020, and had his initial appearance on September 16, 2020 in the federal courthouse in Indianapolis. Through his company, Ford Financial and Insurance Services, he devised a scheme to defraud his investors by means of materially false statements and misrepresentations. As alleged in the Complaint, rather than invest his clients’ money as promised, Ford wired or transferred investor funds to Ford’s financial accounts to use for his own personal expenditures.

Ford’s illegal scheme to steal his clients’ investment funds was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana Secretary of State’s office, and the Greenfield Police Department.

“Investment fraud schemes ultimately lead to the loss of innocent victims’ hard-earned money. The victims expected the defendant to protect their future, not use their money to fund his personal lifestyle,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to investigate these types of crime and ensure criminal activity is identified, investigated, and disrupted.”

“Ford was not registered to sell securities with the Secretary of State’s office, a basic requirement,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “If one investor had checked his registration, his entire scheme would have crumbled. I encourage everyone to check their investor’s registration prior to exchanging any money. It’s a simple safeguard that could protect your retirement nest egg.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Ford faces up to 25 years’ in federal prison if convicted of the charges.

An Indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to investigate and prosecute complex, large-scale fraud schemes that warrant federal resources and expertise, particularly those that exploit vulnerable victims, abuse positions of trust, undermine faith in the markets, pilfer public programs, or are perpetrated by career fraudsters.(See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.1)

Evansville – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of illegal drugs into southwest Indiana. Eleven defendants were indicted by a grand jury in Evansville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

 “Drug trafficking organizations operate on greed and takes advantage of the addiction problem this community, our state and our nation faces,” said Minkler. “This illegal activity cannot and will not be tolerated. I am fully committed, my office is fully committed, and the federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are fully committed, to help stop the flow of narcotics into this state and this community.”

Those arrested and or are a fugitive include:

Rudolfo Ibarra-Hernandez, Aka “Rudy,”48, Mexico FUGITIVE

Juan Guzman, Aka “Hollywood,” 33, Mexico FUGITIVE

Juan Tellez, 44, Phoenix, AZ

Alexus Ortiz, 21, Clarksville, TN

Rayvin Yates, Aka “Ray,”26, Dayton, OH

Cesar Castro, 45, San Diego, CA

Jovanny Contreas-Vazquez, 30, Los Angeles, CA

Maria Castaneda-Villabolos , 33, Los Angeles, CA

Ruby Hernandez, 37, Federal Way, WA

Tania Gervacio, 30, El Cajon, CA

Angelique McCleary, 31, Carlsbad, CA

 According to the indictment, beginning around January 2019, it is alleged that Ibarra-Hernandez and Guzman were the sources of supply for the drugs coming from the Mexican drug cartels to Evansville and Southwest Indiana. Tellez, Castro, Contreas-Vazquez and Castaneda-Villabolos, Gervacio, and McCleary were utilized as drug couriers within the organization, and Yates was a mid-level distributor. Ortiz and Ruby Hernandez were carriers of the money.

The organization used motor vehicles, commercial airlines, United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service and Federal Express to transport the methamphetamine, fentanyl and US currency to and from the southern Indiana area.

During the investigation, law enforcement recovered over 123 pounds of methamphetamine, 769 grams of fentanyl powder, 114 fentanyl pills, 500 oxycodone pills, 345 grams of heroin, and $14,346 in U.S. currency.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Evansville Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Marshal Service, and the U.S Postal Inspection Service.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “Today was a big win! Taking this much methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin off the streets is huge. It is important for drug traffickers to know that the DEA and our partners will use all available resources to prevent drug dealers from peddling poison into our communities.”

“The aim of these types of investigations is to remove illegal narcotics and violent drug dealers from our community and country,” said Dan McClain, US Marshal, Southern District of Indiana. “This investigation is an example of the tremendous teamwork and comradery shown by all organizations involved from start to finish.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who will prosecute this case for the government, the defendants face a maximum of life in federal prison, 5 years supervised release following their sentence, and up to a $10 million fine.

An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are considered innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute more organizations that supply and distribute methamphetamine and heroin in the District. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 3.1, 3.4)

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today a civil settlement with Dave O’Mara Contractor, Inc. (“DOCI”), an asphalt contractor based in Southern Indiana.  The settlement will result in a total payment of $4.25 million to the United States of America.

“The safety and security of the citizens of Indiana are paramount to this office.” Minkler stated. To risk the safety of the motoring public for the sake of saving money cannot be tolerated. This recovery sends the message that contractors must comply with various applicable state and federal regulations when billing the United States Government, or they will face the consequences of their choices.”

The settlement resolves allegations that DOCI misrepresented the materials that it used to pave a number of roads and highways throughout Central and Southern Indiana, which were funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration. Specifically, the government alleges that DOCI represented that it was including steel slag in its asphalt mixture when it was not.  According to the government, this created the false impression that the roads that DOCI provided contained enough binder, or “glue,” to ensure that they would not prematurely deteriorate.

“It is important to ensure that taxpayers get what they pay for so that the quality of products used in highway transportation projects is not compromised,” stated Andrea M. Kropf, Regional Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Today’s settlement sends a message that putting the safety of the traveling public at risk for personal gain is an unacceptable way of conducting business.”

 According to Rachana Fischer, the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the matter, the settlement followed a multi-year investigation by the United States Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office and the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.. The Indiana Department of Transportation provided substantial assistance to the United States in its investigation.

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

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This investigation demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to enforce the collection of criminal and civil debts owed to the United States to maximize recoveries to the United States Treasury and to victims of crime. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 6.4.

The Justice Department today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Indiana Supreme Court explaining that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives the Roman Catholic Archdiocese the right to decide for itself who should personify its beliefs, inculcate its teachings, and instruct students at religious high schools affiliated with the Archdiocese. In its brief, the United States explains that three separate aspects of the First Amendment prevent a former Catholic high school teacher from suing the Archdiocese over his termination:  the church-autonomy doctrine, the Archdiocese’s right to expressive association, and the ministerial exception — a doctrine recently reaffirmed and clarified by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 7-2 decision two months ago in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru.

In September 2019, the United States filed a statement of interest in Indiana state trial court arguing that the First Amendment required this lawsuit to be dismissed. The trial court, in May 2020, declined to dismiss the case, instead ordering discovery into Catholic doctrine and its application and into whether the Archbishop is the highest ecclesiastical authority on the matters at issue.  The Archdiocese is now asking the Indiana Supreme Court to intervene and dismiss the case.

“Our ancestors arrived on our shores to establish a country where the people would be secure to practice their faiths and to gather freely with their religious communities. To that end, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right of religious institutions and people to decide what their beliefs are, to associate with others who share their beliefs, and to determine who will teach the faithful in their religious schools,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Let there be no doubt:  the Department of Justice will continue to defend the First Amendment rights to believe, worship and associate in a manner that respects the dignity and choice of all individuals.”

“There is no more fundamental constitutional principle on the proper relationship between church and state than that the government must leave religious decisions to religious organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler for the Southern District of Indiana.   

This case stems from a directive issued by the Archdiocese to Cathedral High School, a Catholic school in Indianapolis. The Archdiocese told Cathedral that the school’s continued employment of a teacher in a public, same-sex marriage in contradiction to Catholic teachings on marriage would result in Cathedral’s forfeiture of its Catholic identity. After much deliberation, the school terminated the teacher. The teacher then filed suit against the Archdiocese, claiming the directive to Cathedral interfered with his employment and his contractual relationship with the school.  

The United States explains in its brief that the First Amendment prevents courts from impairing the constitutional rights of religious institutions. The former teacher’s lawsuit attempts to penalize the Archbishop for determining that schools within the Archdiocese cannot employ teachers in public, same-sex marriages, and simultaneously identify as Catholic. U.S. Supreme Court precedent makes clear that the First Amendment protects the Archdiocese’s right to this form of expressive association, just as it protects a wide array of non-religious expressive association from membership in the NAACP to the Boy Scouts, and courts cannot interfere with that right.

The brief also makes clear that, under the church-autonomy doctrine, courts cannot second-guess how religious institutions interpret and apply their own religious laws. U.S. Supreme Court precedent has long held that the “First Amendment requires civil courts to refrain from interfering in matters of church discipline, faith, practice and religious law.”

Additionally, as the brief explains, the ministerial exception grounded in the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment and elaborated on by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Our Lady of Guadalupe School, shields from judicial review the Archdiocese’s direction to Cathedral (or else lose its Catholic affiliation) to terminate the employment of a high-school teacher such as Payne-Elliott, who has an important role in fulfilling the Church’s mission to pass on its faith to the next generation.

The United States takes no position on the other issues raised by the Archdiocese on appeal.

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Task Force. The Task Force brings together Department components to coordinate their work on religious liberty litigation and policy, and to implement the Attorney General’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidance.

Evansville – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Joshua W. Eaden, 38, Oakland City, Ind., was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme.

“Mr. Eaden was a trusted employee by many in and around the Princeton community,” said Minkler. “His greed got the best of him, and now his career of lies, deceit and fraud are over. This prosecution should remind those out there who defraud local businesses, that they will face real consequences.”

Joshua Eaden was the manager of the Best-One Tire & Service of Princeton, a retail tire and automobile service sales location in Princeton. Best-One Tire & Service provided parts, supplies, and services to Gibson County Coal. Included among the items Gibson County Coal purchased from Best-One Tire & Service, was industrial heavy equipment tires and foam tire fill, a product made for inflating heavy equipment tires used in coal mining operations.

Between November 1, 2013, and March 4, 2016, Eaden devised a scheme to defraud Gibson County Coal by submitting over 300 false foam tire fill invoices using e-mail messages. Gibson County Coal then made payments by mail to Best-One Tire & Service. Those payments, amounting to more than $189,000, caused the net profit percentage of Best-One Tire & Service to appear to go up to levels yielding higher bonus payments to Eaden.

  During this same time, Eaden included Bridgestone Firestone tire manufacturer in his scheme. They operated a program to reward persons for selling Bridgestone tires through retail sales outlets like Best-One Tire & Service of Princeton. As a participant gained more points within the program, the participant was eligible to receive bonuses.

Eaden reported tire sales to Bridgestone that never occurred and cited invoices related to the claimed sales that did not involve the actual sale of any eligible Bridgestone tires or substantially overstated the number and type of Bridgestone tires sold. As a result, Eaden received bonuses as incentive rewards from Bridgestone for the fictitious tire sales.

A jury returned its verdict on October 24, 2019 finding the defendant guilty of 17 Counts of wire and mail fraud. The sentencing hearing was delayed multiple times by Eaden based on claims that he suffered a medical problem after the trial that severely damaged his vision and rendered him legally blind.

The sentencing hearing was conducted on September 2, 2020. Eaden appeared for the hearing wearing dark light-blocking glasses and told the judge his vision was substantially impaired. The Court permitted the government to present evidence disputing Eaden’s claimed loss of vision. The government called an FBI agent to testify about surveillance conducted during the times Eaden had requested delays in his sentencing hearing. The surveillance evidence included video recordings and photographs of Eaden playing golf and driving a golf cart. Golf course records reflected that Eaden had played golf constantly in 2020, including on days right after he asked the Court to delay his sentencing because of his loss of vision.

After reviewing the surveillance evidence, the Judge enhanced Eaden’s sentence based on his obstruction of justice for exaggerating and misleading the Court about his alleged blindness.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana State Police.

“Mr. Eaden abused his position and the trust his company had in him for one simple reason – greed. To top that off, he thought he could play on the sympathy of the court for a lighter sentence by presenting a disability that was proven to be blatantly false through the dedicated work of our agents,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “This sentence should send a clear message to anyone who would engage in such illegal activities that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will ensure you are held accountable.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Shellenbarger and Kyle Sawa, who prosecuted this case for the government, Eaden must also serve three years of supervised release following his sentence, and pay $244,683 in restitution.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 5.1)

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, William Beard, 58, Columbus, Ind., was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for Unlicensed Firearms Dealing and Falsification of Records in Bankruptcy.

“Beard’s illegal activities introduced hundreds of firearms into the underground gun economy,” said Minkler. “At least twenty three of those guns were recovered from crime scenes in Indianapolis neighborhoods. This office will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who illegally put guns on the streets of our district. Mr. Beard found that out today”

Starting in early 2013 and continuing through October 2017, Beard engaged in systematic unlicensed firearms dealing that resulted in the illegal sale or transfer of over 320 guns. Beard profited significantly from those illegal sales. 

 On numerous occasions, Beard engaged in “multiple sale” transactions in which he bought multiple firearms on the same day or within several days of one another. Through his pattern of unlicensed firearms dealing, Beard sold, traded, or otherwise disposed of all but a handful of the 320-plus firearms that he purchased between 2013 and 2017. He would sell the guns at various locations, including numerous gun and/or trade shows throughout Indiana. In not one instance did Beard conduct a background check or complete the required ATF paperwork that is required if he were a legally operating Federal Firearms Licensee.

 Approximately 23 firearms that Beard purchased and or sold have been recovered from crime scenes. The circumstances of the firearm recoveries ranged from armed robberies to drug search warrants.

On June 18, 2018, Beard filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition in the Southern District of Indiana. He failed to disclose income made from selling and trading firearms. He also did not disclose the facts that he had been criminally indicted, thus willfully obstructing the administration of justice, namely, the proper administration of a bankruptcy proceeding.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

“Selling firearms illegally is just as much a crime as using them illegally,” stated Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “William Beard bought hundreds of firearms, and then sold them without a license. Several of those firearms later showed up in crimes. By diverting firearms from legal to illegal commerce, by helping certain individuals avoid records and background checks, Beard is responsible for fueling violence in our community. Now he will not be able to purchase firearms, and his role in feeding the violence is at an end.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Kendra Klump and Amanda Kester, who prosecuted this case for the government, Beard must also serve 2 years of supervised release following his sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute defendants committing violent crimes involving firearms trafficking, robbery, and carjacking. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 2.3)

INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Christina Short, 43, of Speedway, Indiana, to 27 months in federal prison for perpetrating a six-year scheme to steal over $450,000 from the charitable foundation where she worked.

“Those who donate to charitable causes should feel secure in knowing their funds will go where they intended,” said Minkler. “And those who choose to steal should likewise know that they will be caught, prosecuted, and held accountable in court.”

Short’s now-former employer was Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), a national women’s college fraternity headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. ZTA has thousands of student members across approximately 170 colleges throughout the country, as well as approximately 200,000 living alumni members.

Short worked for over 16 years as the financial coordinator for the ZTA Foundation, which is ZTA’s 501(c) (3) charitable organization. ZTA Foundation raises money for scholarships and educational opportunities for ZTA students and alumni, as well as for breast cancer awareness. As financial coordinator, she was responsible for receiving donations in the mail, depositing them in the Foundation’s bank account, and ensuring that the donations are accounted for in the Foundation’s financial ledgers.

For over six years, beginning in 2012 and continuing until she was terminated in November 2018, Short perpetrated a scheme to steal donations and deposit them into her own personal bank accounts. In all, she stole 816 donations on nearly 500 separate occasions for a total of $450,874.48. She used the money she stole primarily for personal expenses, such as restaurants, clothing, youth sports, and vacations.

Her embezzlement went undetected for so long because of the sophisticated steps she took to conceal it. First, she focused on money orders or other donations that would not cause the donor to be alerted if the donation was deposited in her bank account—in other words, she avoided stealing personal checks.

Second, when she washed and altered the “pay to” line on the money orders, she used over 14 different variations of her name or her maiden name, such as “Kristina M Short,” “Christina Aranjo Short,” and “Christy Short,” in an effort to disguise her scheme from her bank.

Third, she made sure to record all donations in ZTA Foundation’s donation database software, including the ones she stole. As a result, she ensured that donors received confirmation and assurance that their donations were received, such as “thank you” cards and tax receipts.  Donors would even see their name in annual ZTA publications, even though Short had pocketed their donations.

Finally, at the same time, she manually manipulated donation reports to hide the amounts she stole and ensure that the reports matched the ZTA Foundation’s bank records, so neither the Foundation nor their outside accountants would detect her thefts.

Ultimately, a bank examiner noticed a suspicious-looking deposit and contacted ZTA, who confronted Short. She admitted to stealing only that check and was terminated. ZTA immediately notified and cooperated fully with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Carmel Police Department, who investigated and uncovered the full scope of Short’s six-year scheme.

Members of ZTA’s executive staff were present for Short’s sentencing and submitted remarks to the Court regarding the sense of personal betrayal that Short, a 16-year employee and one-time friend of many at ZTA, had caused.

“Embezzlement is a crime that diverts funds from their intended use and causes harm to businesses and individuals. This sentence clearly shows that if you choose to commit this type of crime, you will be held accountable for your actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate those who unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Linder, who prosecuted the case, the Court ordered Short to repay the entire amount she stole, and that after sentencing, she made an initial payment of approximately $30,000. Short will also serve three years of supervised release after her 27-month prison sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting complex, long-running fraud schemes. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.1)

Evansville – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Davontai Jones-Robinson, 23, of Evansville, Indiana, and Trinity Taylor, 26, of Prattville, Alabama, are in federal custody and charged with three counts each of Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery, and three counts each of Use of a Firearm During and Relation to a Crime of Violence.

“Living a life of crime never pays off,” said Minkler. “Their short lived crime spree spread fear into the lives of the innocent victims that they may carry the rest of their lives. And now Jones-Robinson and Taylor face a life sentence in federal prison.”

 On 08/13/20 around 8 pm, officers with the Evansville Police Department were sent to a robbery in progress at Kwik Stop located at 4301 Pollack Avenue. A nearby neighbor reported seeing a man with a long-gun run in and out of the store. The clerk said a black male entered the store with a gun and ordered him to open the register. The gunman took an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes, then exited the store.

Approximately 6 1/2 hours later, around 2:30 am on 08/14/20, officers with the Evansville Police Department were again advised of a robbery in progress at the Circle K located at 2400 E. Riverside Drive. As in the earlier robbery, a black male entered the business brandishing a gun and wearing the same clothing description as before. He ordered the clerk to open the register and he took an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes. A dark colored passenger car is also observed in the area before and during the robbery.

 Approximately 9 ½ hours later, Warrick County Law Enforcement officers were notified of a robbery in progress at Chuckles located at 175 W. Main Street in Elberfeld. Once again, a black male entered the business with a gun and ordered the clerk to open the register. The gunman stole an undetermined amount of cash and leaving in a dark colored passenger car.

Investigators were able to determine that the same individual committed the robberies and the same dark colored passenger car was involved as the getaway vehicle. The license plate number was identified and investigators from the Indiana State Police were able to determine it belonged to a car rental company. Records indicated that Trinity Taylor was renting the vehicle in question.

 On 08/14/20 around 3:45 pm, patrol officers from the Evansville Police Department located the vehicle in question at Covert Avenue and Green River Road. Trinity Taylor was identified as the driver and taken into custody. Further investigation revealed that Jones-Robinson was the armed gunman who went inside and robbed the businesses.

A search warrant was executed at the apartment where Taylor and Jones-Robinson were residing. Several items related to all three robberies were discovered and secured as evidence.

 This case was investigated by the FBI Indiana Violent Crime Task Force, Evansville Police Department, Warrick County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who is prosecuting this case for the government, both defendants face up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release after being released from federal prison.

Criminal charges are merely allegations and are not evidence of guilt. Both defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in federal court.  

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to investigate and prosecute defendants committing violent crimes involving firearms. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.3)

Today, the expansion of Operation Legend was announced in Indianapolis.  Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.  The Operation was first launched on July 8 in Kansas City, MO., and expanded on July 22, 2020, to Chicago and Albuquerque, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, and to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020.

Operation Legend is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

“The most basic responsibility of government is to protect the safety of our citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.  “Today, we have extended Operation Legend to Indianapolis, a city experiencing an increase in violent crime that no resident of that city should have to accept as part of everyday life.  For decades, the Department of Justice has achieved significant success when utilizing our anti-violent crime task forces and federal law enforcement agents to enforce federal law and assist American cities that are experiencing upticks in violent crime.  The Department of Justice’s assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets.”

Attorney General Barr has directed the ATF, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service in Indianapolis to dedicate resources to Operation Legend to help state and local officials fight high levels of violent crime, particularly gun violence. 

Indianapolis is experiencing a significant increase in violent crime, with homicides currently up more than 51% and non-fatal shootings up more than 34%.

In Indianapolis, the Department of Justice will supplement state and local law enforcement agencies by dedicating 40 federal investigators to Operation Legend for 45 days.  The Department of Homeland Security will also make 17 agents available.  Under the leadership of Joshua J. Minkler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, these investigators will complement the work already underway by existing joint federal, state and local task forces focused on combating violent gangs, gun crime, and drug trafficking organizations. 

In addition, the Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $250,000 to support Operation Legend’s violent crime reduction efforts in Indianapolis.  These funds will be available to reimburse state and local agencies with any overtime during the operation.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Operation Legend will be expanding into the City of Indianapolis. Operation Legend is named in honor of four-year-old Legend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early on the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.

 Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The federal law enforcement support provided through Operation Legend looks different in each city in order to meet the specific needs of the individual communities.

Operation Legend is not intended for or in response to protest activity, civil disturbances, or immigration enforcement. It was not conceived or announced in response to events in Portland, which is not an Operation Legend city.

The Operation was first launched on July 8 in Kansas City, Missouri, as a result of President Trump’s promise to assist America’s cities that are plagued by recent violence.  Operation Legend was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; and to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020.

Larger cities across the country have seen a surge in murders and violent crimes in recent years,” said Minkler. “The innocent victims and perpetrators are getting younger than ever before and Indianapolis has not been immune from this surge. Operation Legend will enhance the partnerships already established between local, state, and federal law enforcement. And will serve as another tool that can be used to assist in currant investigations and help deter the need for new ones to start.”

Attorney General Barr has directed the ATF, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service in Indianapolis to dedicate resources to Operation Legend to help state and local officials fight high levels of violent crime, particularly gun violence. Under the leadership of Minkler, There will be 57 federal investigators dedicated to Operation Legend who will continue their work through existing joint federal, state and local task forces, and investigators and officers from IMPD. They will be focused on combatting violent gangs, gun crime, and drug trafficking organizations.

“Operation Legend will enhance our locally-led, federally-supported response to violence in Indianapolis,” said Mayor Hogsett. “Through increased engagement with the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, and U.S. Marshalls, we will leverage a more robust response to deadly violence and crime in our city. It will take massive efforts, both preventive and punitive, for us to get through this unprecedented time. It will also take continued collaboration between neighborhoods most impacted by violent crime and those investigating that crime. These are all parts of addressing this challenge.”

“IMPD officers spend every day working to build stronger relationships with our residents and make Indianapolis neighborhoods safer,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “While growing the number of community-based beats and adding officers to our units focused on violent crime, our agency remains fully committed to the task forces that receive additional resources today.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan announced that as part of the initiative, a reward of up to $25,000 would be made available for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual responsible for the homicide of De’Shaun Swanson.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available up to $250,000 to support Operation Legend’s violent crime reduction efforts in Indianapolis. These funds will be available to reimburse state and local agencies with any overtime during the operation.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Brian Jones, 30, Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. Jones previously pleaded guilty to charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

“During these challenging times, Indianapolis has seen an increase in domestic violence, murders, and shootings.” said Minkler. “I commend IMPD and ATF for getting Mr. Jones off our streets and into a federal prison before the results of his pattern of criminal behavior became more tragic.”

On May 7, 2019, IMPD responded to a 911 call for help from a residence located at 4006 Independence Drive, Indianapolis. When officers arrived, they were met by the visibly upset and frightened female victim. She said that her ex-boyfriend, Brian Jones, had arrived at her residence uninvited. She allowed Jones into the residence because she was fearful of him forcing his way in. She further stated that Jones had a small bag with him when he entered and then he went to sleep.

When Jones woke up, he became upset and accused her of taking his cell phone. Jones had a firearm with him and pointed it at her and threatened to kill her and the children. She was able to sneak downstairs to call 911 and meet police. Officers later discovered that Jones had exited the residence at some point. Officers located a firearm and small amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in a small blue bag that Jones arrived with.

Jones is not legally permitted to own or possess a firearm because he has more than eight felony convictions, including a previous federal conviction for illegally possession a firearm. His convictions include three firearms convictions, trafficking in controlled substances, and participating in a criminal gang. The evidence at the sentencing hearing revealed that Jones pointed a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun at his ex-girlfriend and threatened to kill her and her two minor children.  Jones currently also faces pending violations of Ohio state parole and violations of his supervised release from the Southern District of Ohio.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

“Keeping guns out of the hands of serious violent felons is a critical part of the IMPD’s efforts to address violence,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “We will continue working alongside U.S. Attorney Minkler and the ATF to secure federal convictions for those who illegally-possess firearms and make Indianapolis a safer community.”

“No one, especially children, should live in fear of another. Domestic violence will not be tolerated. My hope is Mr. Jones’ victims can now live and sleep better, knowing he will not be able to threaten them, “ stated Roland H. Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Division . “When convicted felons choose to knowingly possess and use firearms to threaten or bring harm to citizens, agents will pursue any and all available charges to quickly remove the offender from the community. ATF continues to display its full commitment to keeping the Indianapolis community safe through our partnership with the USAO and IMPD.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S Domash, who prosecuted this case for the government, Jones must also serve two years of supervised release after his prison sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who commit serious firearms offenses. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.2)

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Shepard T. Hoehn, 50, of Lawrence, Ind., has been charged by criminal complaint in federal district court with one count of violating 42 U.S.C. § 3631 for making threats to intimidate and interfere with his African-American neighbor because of the neighbor’s race and because of his use and enjoyment of his property, as well as two counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) for unlawfully possessing firearms. The complaint was unsealed today in federal court. A copy of the criminal complaint and affidavit are attached to this release.

“Although the First Amendment protects hateful, ignorant and morally repugnant beliefs and speech, it does not protect those who choose to take criminal actions based on those beliefs,” said Minkler. “This office will continue to prosecute federal hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Hoehn intimidated and interfered with an African-American man’s right to occupy his home because of his race and color. Specifically, Hoehn created and displayed a swastika on a fence facing the man’s property; placed and burned a cross above the fence line facing the man’s property; created and displayed a large sign next to the swastika containing a variety of anti-Black racial slurs; visibly displayed a machete near the sign; and loudly played the song “Dixie” on repeat.

The Lawrence Police Department and the FBI were called to investigate. During the investigation, Hoehn acknowledged he was angry over a dispute with the neighbors and knew his actions would cause his neighbors to feel intimidated and be afraid.

Subsequently, federal and local law enforcement executed search warrants at Hoehn’s residence. During the search several firearms and drug paraphernalia were located. Agents also discovered that Hoehn was a fugitive from a case in Missouri and federal law prohibited Hoehn from possessing firearms.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brad Shephard of the Southern District of Indiana and Trial Attorney Katherine DeVar of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

“The FBI takes allegations of civil rights violations very seriously and will not tolerate harassment and intimidation directed at individuals because of their race, sexual identity or religious beliefs," said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “Such incidents represent not just an attack on an individual, but also on the victim’s community, and are intended to create fear. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work to identify those committing these acts to ensure the rights of all Americans are protected.”

A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Hoehn faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the three charged offenses.

Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting the Civil Rights Reporting Portal located at civilrights.justice.gov. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities and also available in both English and Spanish. Individuals can still call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Coordinator, Jeffrey D. Preston, at 317-226-6333, or the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington D.C. at 855-856-1247 (toll free) or 202-514-3827.

Individuals who believe they are the victim of a criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to identify, investigate, and prosecute civil rights violations that rise to the level of criminal conduct. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 7.1)

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that Shepherd Hoehn, 50, has been charged by criminal complaint in federal district court with one count of violating 42 U.S.C. § 3631 for making threats to intimidate and interfere with his African-American neighbor because of the neighbor’s race and because of his use and enjoyment of his property, as well as two counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) for unlawfully possessing firearms.

According to documents filed in connection with the complaint, on June 18, 2020, a construction crew began working at the direction of Hoehn’s neighbor to remove a tree from the neighbor’s property. Upon learning of the tree removal, Hoehn became angry and took several steps to intimidate and interfere with his neighbor and the construction workers. Specifically, Hoehn placed and burned a cross above the fence line facing his neighbor’s property; created and displayed a swastika on the outer side of his fence, facing his neighbor’s property; created and displayed a large sign containing a variety of anti-Black racial slurs next to the swastika; visibly displayed a machete near the sign with the racial slurs; loudly played the song “Dixie” on repeat; and threw eggs at his neighbor’s house. On July 1, 2020, the FBI executed of a federal search warrant at Hoehn’s home. During the search, several firearms and drug paraphernalia were located. Agents also discovered that Hoehn was a fugitive from a case in Missouri and unable to lawfully possess firearms.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Hoehn faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the three charged offenses.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brad Shephard of the Southern District of Indiana and Trial Attorney Katherine DeVar of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Anthony T. Leonard, 53, Clarksville, Ind., was charged with twenty-two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. His misrepresentations and false promises caused investors to invest over $1 million in his companies, nurseVersity LLC, Versity Edu, Versity Inc., and VersityU.

“The false and fraudulent misrepresentations and promises Leonard made to unsuspecting investors is shameful.” said Minkler. “His lies and deceit caused a lot of pain and mistrust to the victims while he enriched himself with luxury. His fraud has come to an end and the victims can begin healing from this fraudster’s pain.”

Leonard developed a software product called nurseVersity, which was designed to assist nursing students in passing their nursing board examinations.

From approximately 2013 through at least 2019, Leonard sought out investors to his companies, and in doing so, made numerous false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises pertaining to the financials of the companies, customer information, and ownership interests.

Leonard also misrepresented his qualifications, education, medical history, personnel issues, and provided many other false and fictitious reasons for needing money. All this was done for his personal benefit.

As a result, investors paid Leonard over $1 million for purported ownership interests and other rights to alleged sham companies. The majority of the funds received from these investors were used by Leonard and his wife for their personal enrichment. He purchased property in New Albany with a lake and buildings. He also enjoyed expensive dinners, trips, and other unrelated business expenses.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and United States Secret Service. These agencies were also assisted by the Indiana Secretary of State.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, investigates any fraud in which the U.S. Mail is used.” said Acting Inspector in Charge Richard Sheehan. This investigation was an excellent example of a partnership between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and the Indiana Secretary of State working together to combat those willing to defraud innocent customers and businesses from their money through illegal or nefarious means.”

“Today’s announcement is a direct result of the extraordinary cooperation and partnership among law enforcement agencies at all levels,” said Eric Reed, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “The defendant abused his position of trust for his own personal benefit by deliberately stealing millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors. This case represents the core of the Secret Service’s commitment to protecting the United States financial infrastructure and is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Indiana Secretary of State.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Leonard could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, if convicted.

An complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are considered innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

If anyone has invested money with or feels they might be a victim of Anthony T. Leonard, they are encouraged to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes that undermine faith in the markets. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 5.1)

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, eight individuals were indicted on federal drug charges, including Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. The Indictments were unsealed in federal court today. 

"During these challenging times, the last things we need in our neighborhoods are more crime guns, more fentanyl, more methamphetamine, more cocaine, more heroin, and more drug money," said Minkler. "I commend the hard work of the FBI, the IRS and the IMPD who combined their limited law enforcement resources in order to remove a criminal organization that sought to financially profit by infesting our city’s streets with more guns, more drugs and more blood money. The deliberate actions of our local and federal law enforcement partners have immediately made Indianapolis a safer place to live, work and raise a family."

 Those charged include:

      Christopher Shelton a/k/a Horse, Indianapolis, 41

      Scot Nelson, Indianapolis, 37

      Joshua Douglas, Muncie, 38

      Marguerite Collins, Indianapolis, 45

      Jarrad Cooney, Indianapolis, 32

      Jason Corey, Indianapolis, 47

      Antonio Turner a/k/a Trapper a/k/a Tone, Indianapolis, 32

      Stephen Cole, Indianapolis, 43

According to the indictments, the above individuals were engaging in trafficking methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in Indianapolis. On Monday morning, sixteen search warrants and federal arrest warrants were executed by federal agents and officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in the Indianapolis area. As a result of those search warrants, 31 illegally possessed firearms, 4 ½ pounds of methamphetamine; ½ kilogram of cocaine; 1 kilogram of fentanyl, and approximately $272,000 in U.S. currency that represented the proceeds of drug trafficking were seized and taken off city streets.

Beginning in the fall of 2019, federal agents began investigating a number of individuals for their suspected drug trafficking activities.

As the investigation progressed, it led investigators to the Muncie, Indiana area where meetings would take place and methamphetamine would be transported back to Vans Auto Repair in Indianapolis to be distributed.

On one of the occasions traveling back to Indianapolis, the Fishers Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which Joshua Douglas was a passenger and Douglas’s girlfriend was the driver. As the vehicle was coming to a stop, Douglas threw out a bag containing methamphetamine and heroin.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, DEA Indianapolis District Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

“Federal task forces are taking note of the increasing incidents of violence in Indianapolis”, said Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “These search and arrest warrants have taken guns, drugs, and violent offenders off the streets of Indianapolis. IRS Criminal Investigation understands the importance of committing our resources to these task forces and will continue to provide assistance to make our communities safer.”

“These indictments demonstrate our commitment to eradicating violent criminal enterprises. Even during the COVID shutdown, the FBI and our law enforcement partners were still engaged in investigations to reduce violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “What you saw Monday was the result of the dedicated work of multiple agencies with one shared goal - to make the community safer for residents who shouldn’t have to live in fear.”

IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said, “Through strategic partnership with our federal law enforcement partners, IMPD remains committed to addressing the violence in our community too often associated with the trade of illicit drugs.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who will prosecute this case for the government, the defendants face up to life imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.

An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proved otherwise in federal court.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecute organizations and individuals distributing methamphetamine, heroin, opioids, and synthetic opioids. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 3.3)

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Christian Lovies, 21, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to more than 32 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney. In February, a jury found Lovies guilty of kidnapping, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime.

“I hope the sentence Lovies received will bring some peace and comfort to the brave victim in this case.” said Minkler. “The fear that Lovies and his violent crime partners imposed on this innocent victim and others is unimaginable. No doubt, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati are much safer with Lovies and his co-defendants off the street.”

Lovies and three associates were involved in a violent crime spree including the theft of a vehicle containing a toddler in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fortunately, the child was found, uninjured, approximately a half mile away from where the vehicle was stolen. Lovies and his associates then stole another vehicle and fled Milwaukee to avoid arrest for their offenses. The stolen vehicle that the group was traveling in broke down in Indianapolis, leaving the group stranded and on foot.

Lovies and another co-defendant approached an Indianapolis teacher who was getting gas on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Lovies pointed a gun at the victim, demanded her keys, and forced the victim into the backseat of her vehicle. The victim was held captive for approximately three hours while the group travelled to Cincinnati, Ohio. During the trip, Lovies and another co-defendant discussed killing the victim, but decided against it. The victim was ultimately released in Cincinnati, Ohio and was permitted to leave with her vehicle. She quickly drove away and ended up stopping at a YMCA where she was assisted by the staff in calling the Cincinnati Police Department.

Lovies and his associates allegedly carjacked two other women in the Cincinnati area. Lovies has federal charges pending in those cases, and has already been sentenced for offenses he committed in the Milwaukee area.

Two of Lovies co-defendants have been sentenced to federal prison and/or have pending charges in Milwaukee for their crime spree. Jaleel Schultz received 18 years for his participation in this case and pled guilty to state charges in Milwaukee related to the car theft with the child inside. He also has pending charges for a drive by shooting that occurred in Milwaukee. Armone Hudson received 10 years for his role in this offense. The fourth individual involved in this offense was a juvenile and that case remains under seal.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Cincinnati Police Department.

“Today’s sentencing of Christian Lovies demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating cases of violent crime to protect innocent victims from those who engage in this type of activity. The teamwork between the our agents and task force officers on the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and police departments across three states, ensured there is one less predator victimizing members of our community.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Kester and Kathryn Olivier, who prosecuted this case for the government, Lovies will also serve five years of supervised release following his release from federal prison.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecute defendants committing violent crimes involving firearms, and carjacking. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.3

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Michael Price, 46, Indianapolis, Ind., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II, to 110 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

“Mr. Price is a convicted felon who lost his right to carry a firearm.” said Minkler. “He choose to violate federal law and shoot someone in the process. This sentence should be a warning to others that want to choose the same path as Mr. Price. If you illegally possess a firearm you are headed down the same path as Price, straight to federal prison.”

On January 17, 2018, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to 1746 Spruce St., Indianapolis, IN in response to a call of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers encountered a victim who had a gunshot wound in the leg. The victim and two other witnesses, all identified the shooter as a white male named "Michael" who fled in a red truck.

      After a radio broadcast of the suspect's description and vehicle, IMPD officers encountered a vehicle matching the description approximately 2 miles away in the area of 25th Street and Troy Avenue. Officers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Michael Price.

      A license check indicated that Price was a habitual traffic offender. Officers also saw a black semi-automatic handgun was in plain view, on the front passenger seat. A loaded magazine was also in plain view, on the driver's side floorboard. Price indicated that he had been at the Spruce St. house, and was in an argument with one of the occupants. The argument turned into a fight, and during the fight, Price fired shots from a revolver.

Price believed that an individual at the Spruce Street address had taken money that belonged to him. When he arrived at the residence he exited his vehicle with the loaded handgun drawn. As the occupants of the residence were attempting to shut the door and enter the house, Price shot into the door four times striking one of the occupants.

A review of Price’s criminal history revealed that he has two prior felony convictions for dealing in a controlled substance.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

“ATF is proud to work side by side with our partners, including IMPD, to make sure that violent criminals like Michael Price no longer threaten the residents of Indianapolis,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan McPherson. “Cooperation with our law enforcement partners acts as a multiplier in our efforts to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Brad Shepard, who prosecuted this case for the government, Price must also serve three years of supervised release following his sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute defendants committing violent crimes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.2 and 2.3

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, George Ruth, 64, Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison for defrauding the United States Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration.

“Mr. Ruth has tried making a career of getting something for nothing,” said Minkler. “He was not that good at it and this sentence should put an end to it. Don’t steal from the government and the programs in place to help those in need and expect law abiding citizens to carry your responsibility.

Beginning January 2010, and continuing until in or around November 2017, Ruth and his co-conspirators, Norman Flick, Kenneth Burton, and Carlos Aubrey, conspired to file earnings statements with the Social Security Administration that reported false earnings, false employment, and other false items, to obtain money, in the form of fraudulent Social Security benefits.

Ruth and others sought to enrich themselves by submitting false and fictitious IRS Forms purportedly from Lehman Brothers and other bankrupt companies, to the SSA. The IRS Forms contained false and fraudulent earnings and employment information that would increase their monthly Social Security benefits and result in lump sum “back pay” payments to themselves and others.

In total, Ruth unlawfully obtained or attempted to obtain approximately $1,083,180 in Social Security benefits to which he was not entitled.

Beginning January 2011, and continuing until in or around October 2017, Ruth and his co-conspirators also conspired to prepare and submit to the IRS false and fraudulent federal income tax returns so they could unlawfully obtain federal income tax refunds.

They continued to enrich themselves by preparing and submitting to the IRS false and fraudulent U.S. individual income tax returns to unlawfully obtain federal income tax refunds to which they were not titled. In total, Ruth and the others unlawfully obtained or attempted to obtain approximately $3,707,585.98 in federal income tax refunds to which they were not entitled.

Co-conspirators, Kenneth Burton and Carlos Aubrey were previously sentenced. Norman Flick is deceased.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General and IRS Criminal Investigation.

“The stiff sentence announced today is a demonstration of our tireless commitment to hold individuals accountable who seek to defraud SSA by submitting false documentation for unlawful financial gain,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security. “I am pleased to see the final chapter today of this far-reaching conspiracy, which was designed to steal more than $1 million from the taxpayers. I appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s support of our investigation, and I want to recognize IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their efforts to see justice done in this case.”

“Mr. Ruth has been prosecuted previously and has not learned his lesson,” said Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “This prosecution of Mr. Ruth shows the American taxpayers that IRS-CI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and our federal counterparts are working hard to protect taxpayer funds. We will continue to investigate and prosecute these offenders, especially when they don’t get the message the first time.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery D. Preston, who prosecuted this case for the government, Ruth must also serve three years of supervised release, pay $1,083,160 to the Social Security Administration and $95,132 to the Internal Revenue Service.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes and those engaged in income tax evasion; filing false tax returns and schemes to defraud involving tax returns. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 5.1, 5.4)

 

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Reggie M. Balentine, 43, Kokomo, Ind., and Perry O. Jones, 45, Kokomo, Ind. were sentenced for their role in a large drug trafficking ring operating in Kokomo, Ind. Balentine was sentenced to 504 months in federal prison and Jones was sentenced to 260 months in federal prison.

     “Shutting this drug trafficking organization down was a big victory for the law abiding citizens of Kokomo and the entire Hoosier state.” said Minkler. Investigations like this where drug dealers are arrested, held without bond, convicted at trial and sentenced to a lengthy federal prison sentence will restore some peace to the citizens of Kokomo.”

From the fall of 2017 to May 1, 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Indianapolis District Office, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, and the Kokomo Police Department conducted an extensive investigation that resulted in the federal arrest of 15 Kokomo, Indiana residents including Balentine and Jones.

The investigation revealed that Balentine was coordinating drug shipments from co-conspirator, Pierre Riley, in Atlanta, GA for further distribution in the Kokomo area by Michael Jones, who was earlier sentenced to 35 years, as well as other co-conspirators, to include his roommate, Perry Jones. Balentine would utilize female couriers to travel between Kokomo and Georgia to deliver controlled substances to Balentine and deliver drug proceeds to his supplier Pierre Riley in Georgia. These couriers would travel by bus or vehicle to complete this task.

Throughout the conspiracy, many of the conspirators possessed firearms in relation to their drug trafficking activities, in order to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds. Investigators were also able to arrest two hitmen that were hired by the organization to travel from Atlanta, Georgia to Kokomo to murder a Kokomo resident.

 During the investigation, agents seized approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin, 122 grams of fentanyl, $37,000 in drug proceeds and 24 firearms.

In October 2019, Balentine plead guilty to the following federal offenses: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire, felon in possession of a firearm, attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Jones also plead guilty to the following federal offenses: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Kokomo Police Department.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “The 42 year sentence for Mr. Balentine and the 21 year sentence of Mr. Jones is a big win for the fine citizens of Kokomo. Mr. Balentine headed a violent drug trafficking organization that utilized fear and violence to fuel the illicit distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the Kokomo area. The DEA and their local, state, and federal partners are committed to targeting the most violent individuals who are wreaking havoc in our communities. Mr. Balentine was clearly that person.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Brady, who prosecuted this case for the government, Balentine must also serve five years of supervised release and Jones must serve ten years supervised release following their sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute organizations that distribute methamphetamine and or heroin. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 3.1 and 3.3

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Frank Powell a/k/a “Bread”, 29, Indianapolis, Ind., was sentenced to 134 months in federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale fraud ring, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

“Mr. Powell’s career of lies, deceit and fraud are over,” said Minkler. “Nothing says that louder than the sound of a federal prison door slamming shut on a 12 year sentence. This prosecution should remind those out there who defraud local businesses and banks – particularly those with lengthy criminal histories of theft, fraud, and deception – that they will face real consequences.”

From 2017 through April 2018, Powell and others presented and used fraudulent checks at Indianapolis Kroger stores and in at least 12 other states, to purchase gift cards and merchandise. Powell recruited and trained over 20 “runners” to cash checks at Kroger stores nationwide, including co-conspirators Javonte Wright, Anthony Duerson, and Antionne Brewster.

Powell printed the fraudulent checks and distributed them to the “runners”, and received a cut of the profits. The scope of this retail scheme was far-reaching, touching on at least 12 states with more than 5,000 fraudulent checks, resulting in losses exceeding $300,000.

 In addition to the retail scheme, Powell attempted to defraud a local bank and car dealership when he tried to obtain financing to purchase a Cadillac Escalade using the identity of another person. Without the knowledge or authorization of the victim, Powell used a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license along with the name, address and social security number of the victim during the loan application process, which was ultimately stopped by the dealership.

 Co-conspirators Wright and Duerson were previously sentenced to 30 months and 24 months respectively. Co-conspirator Brewster has not yet been sentenced.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fishers Police Department, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Carmel Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Kroger’s Organized Retail Crime Investigators, Central Division.

"This sentence should send a clear message to anyone contemplating financial fraud, or any criminal activity, that the FBI will aggressively investigate those committing illegal acts and bring those activities to a grinding halt,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “It also highlights the strong relationships we have with our law enforcement partners in pursuit of those who take advantage of others through their illegal and criminal behavior.”

Kroger praised its lead investigator for his “tenacious efforts” to help stop this group. Spokesman Eric Halvorson said, “Kroger is pleased with the outcome of the case and appreciates the hard work of law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Their diligence in combatting fraud and theft is an important strategy to help keep prices low for our customers.” 

According to Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case for the government, Powell must also serve five years of supervised release following his sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes that undermine faith in the markets, as well as to prosecute sophisticated identity fraud organizations. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 4.5 and 5.1)

INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Jeremy Bullock, 43, Indianapolis, Ind. was charged with a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm.

"This is exactly the type of crime and arrest that Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is designed for." said Minkler. "Making neighborhoods safer by focusing law enforcement resources on the most violent in society. Mr. Bullock has a history of violent behavior which has continued by his actions of terrorizing his neighbors by firing gunshots in the neighborhood in which he lives. This is another great example of the exceptional work by the special agents and officers assigned to the CGIC (Crime Gun Intelligence Center)."

Since January 2020, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department had received several calls about gunshots being fired in and around the area of 3134 East Sumner Avenue, Indianapolis. Officers and special agents from the Crime Gun Intelligence Center began an investigation.

On July 1, 2020, with the assistance of the IMPD SWAT Team, officers and special agents from CGIC executed a search warrant at 3134 East Sumner Avenue, Indianapolis. Two

individuals were located after they exited the residence. One of the persons was Jeremy Bullock. Mr. Bullock has numerous prior felony convictions, to include murder, carjacking, burglary, resisting law enforcement, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

While searching the residence, investigators located a handgun, sawed off shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, suspected marijuana, and narcotic paraphernalia.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Brady who is prosecuting this case for the government, Bullock faces up to life imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

A charge is not evidence of guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its public safety challenges. This demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute defendants committing violent crimes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 2.2, 2.3.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Michael L. Jones, 38, Kokomo, Ind. was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II.

“Holding Mr. Jones accountable for his drug trafficking dealings, will hopefully help restore some peace and tranquility in the Kokomo neighborhoods he was infecting,” said Minkler. “My message to those who choose to sell illegal drugs and spread the addictions that follow, is that if you don’t choose a different path then you will be held accountable and experience the wrath of federal prosecution.”

From late of 2017 to May 1, 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Indianapolis District Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Kokomo Police Department conducted an extensive investigation that resulted in the federal arrest of 15 Kokomo, Indiana residents including Jones.

During the investigation, agents seized approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin, 122 grams of fentanyl, $37,000 in drug proceeds and 24 firearms.

In November 2019, Mr. Jones was one of four defendants found guilty after a three week jury trial. Jones was convicted of the following federal offenses: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and heroin, felon in possession of a firearm, and laundering of monetary instruments.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Kokomo Police Department.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “The 35 year sentence for Mr. Jones was justice for the fine citizens of Kokomo. Mr. Jones was one of the most violent drug traffickers in the city of Kokomo and had an extensive criminal history. He used violence, fear and intimidation as a platform to feed his illegal activities. This long prison sentence allows the citizens of Kokomo to sleep better and puts all drug dealers on notice that DEA and their state, local and federal counterparts will utilize all resources available to hold violent offenders accountable. DEA thanks the Kokomo Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for their outstanding work.”

“The laundering of illegal drug proceeds is essential to finance these illegal organizations,” said Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “This 35-year sentence of Mr. Jones sends a strong message to the community that IRS Criminal Investigation will put in the work required to follow the money and bring these criminals to justice. IRS-CI is proud to have contributed our financial expertise to this investigation which has had a direct impact on the safety of the Kokomo community.”

“The Kokomo Police Department appreciates the hard work of our partners at the DEA and United States Attorney’s Office.” said Kokomo Police Department Captain Tonda Cockrell. “The dismantling of the Drug Trafficking Organization of Reggie Balentine, Michael Jones, and Pierre Riley had a significant effect on the Kokomo community. The sentences handed down by the federal courts has sent a clear message as to the impact of this criminal activity.”

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its public safety challenges. This demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to target, investigate, and prosecute organizations that distribute methamphetamine and or heroin. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 3.1, 3.3.

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Krystal Cherika Scott, 19, Kokomo, Ind. was arrested and charged with two counts of Making and Distributing Animal Crush Videos, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 48 (the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act).  

“As decent human beings, we have a great responsibility to protect and have compassion for the animals that inhabit this earth.” said Minkler. “It is unconscionable to think that any human being could possible bring themselves to such acts upon an animal. We cannot allow this behavior in a decent and moral society. That is why Ms. Scott must face the consequences of her choices.”

Beginning at least on or about May 3, 2020, and continuing until at least July 8, 2020, Scott, began posting images and videos over various social media platforms, that depicted Scott torturing and graphically killing cats and dogs by hanging, skinning and other means. 

Scott’s conduct attracted the attention of several private citizens who began using publicly available information to attempt to identify the perpetrator. The concerned citizens shared and collected information so that they could provide it to law enforcement and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

On June 16, 2020, the Boise, Idaho Police Department received information from some of those concerned citizens, and immediately opened an investigation. After reviewing the videos and images, the officers concluded that they constituted “animal crush videos,” which is a federal violation.

On June 18, 2020, Boise Police Department contacted the FBI who began working to identify the perpetrator. Working in conjunction with the Boise Police Department and the Ada County Idaho Sheriff’s Office, the investigation revealed that Krystal Cherika Scott of Kokomo Indiana, was responsible for torturing and killing the animals, then posting the videos. Scott obtained the animals, at least in part, by responding to online ads from individuals who were seeking to give away their unwanted pets for adoption.

The FBI Indianapolis Field Office joined the investigation, and learned that Kokomo Police Department had recently contacted Scott after receiving similar animal cruelty complaints in May and June. At that time, Kokomo Police were unable to make an arrest and were unaware of the other investigations involving Scott.

As agents worked to gather evidence, Scott continued to post images of dead animals on Instagram and Tik-Tok as late as July 8th, 2020. On July 9, 2020, the Honorable Doris L. Pryor, Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana, approved the execution of search warrants seeking additional evidence from Scott’s person, residence, and vehicles, as well as the search and seizure of evidence obtained by the Kokomo Police Department.

On July 14, 2020, Special Agents of the FBI and other law enforcement officers executed the warrants. During the search, the FBI recovered numerous animal parts and skulls that were consistent with the size of cats and dogs. Agents also discovered approximately three live dogs, twelve live cats, and several lizards.

FBI recovered and seized the cellular phone used to produce and distribute the animal crushing videos. A full forensic analysis of the phone is currently underway. Scott told officers that her mother did not participate in acts of animal crushing or posting animal crushing videos.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Boise Police Department, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Resident Agency in Boise, Idaho and the Indianapolis Field Office. The Kokomo Police Department also assisted with this case.

“Animal abusers have total power over that animal and, if someone is willing to be that cruel to an animal, evidence suggests they may target vulnerable humans as well,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “In November of 2019, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act was passed to address this issue and to assist law enforcement to better target intervention efforts with respect to animal cruelty and the crimes for which it serves as a marker. Our agents and law enforcement partners will continue to diligently work to identify and investigate those who would perpetrate these crimes.”

“This case is an outstanding example of society’s intolerance to animal cruelty and the public’s willingness to do the right thing,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office. “Tips poured in from all over the world, assisting in an intense and technically complex investigation to find the alleged perpetrator and put a stop to the senseless and horrific abuse of innocent animals.”

“The Boise Police Department is thankful to have played a role in the investigation into this disturbing crime. We had concerned people from all over the world contact us about the terrible images they were seeing on social media. Our officers and detectives worked hard to investigate leads here in Boise and partnered with the FBI as the investigation grew and moved out of state.” said Boise Police Department Deputy Chief Ron Winegar. “We also want to thank the Ada County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance as well as the public for their many tips and patience as we worked to see this investigation through.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany Preston who is prosecuting this case for the government, the defendant faces up to 7 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

A charge is not evidence of guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its public safety challenges. This demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to violent crime and crimes committed using the dark web. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.3 and 4.6. 

EVANSVILLE – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Rose Ann Azzarello, 60, Ft. Branch, Ind., and Andrea Renee Pytlinski, 38, Ft. Branch, Ind., were arrested and charged with wire fraud.

"With any crisis, comes criminals looking for the opportunity to cash in for their own benefit. The coronavirus health crisis has not been immune from their fraudulent schemes" said Minkler. "These fraudsters steal money that does not belong to them for their greedy purposes, which strains the programs that are meant to help those most in need."

On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This legislation provides emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

The CARES Act was designed to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways. The CARES Act includes a provision of temporary benefits for individuals who have exhausted their entitlement to regular unemployment compensation, as

well as coverage for individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, are self-employed, or have limited recent work history.

On 5/15/2020, the Fort Branch Police Department received a complaint from Field and Main Bank in Evansville, regarding account transactions in which Washington State Unemployment benefits were being ACH transferred into Indiana bank accounts held by Azzarello and Pytlinski.

Those accounts were funded with Washington State unemployment benefits and the proceeds of an alleged check scam. For more than a year, Azzaarello and Pytlinski participated in a wire fraud scheme by receiving and sending funds via wire and common courier as directed by someone only known as "William Lewis". As the illicit funds are deposited into their accounts, Azzarello and Pytlinski would withdraw the funds prior to the detection of any fraud and then transmit a portion of the ill-gotten funds to a third party while retaining their share.

The United States Secret Service has received reports about a well-organized fraud ring exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to commit large-scale fraud against state unemployment insurance programs. The primary state targeted so far is Washington.

This fraud network is believed to consist of hundreds, if not thousands, of money mules with potential losses in the millions of dollars. The financial institutions targeted have been at all levels including local banks, credit unions and large national banks.

This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Ft. Branch Police Department.

"Today’s announcement illustrates the Secret Service’s commitment to combating COVID-19 unemployment fraud," said Eric Reed, Special Agent in Charge, Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. "The immediate investigative actions taken by the Secret Service and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, prevented legitimate unemployment funds from getting into the wrong hands. The Secret Service will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and arrest criminals who attempt to defraud the critical COVID-19 relief programs and the American taxpayer."

"Criminals profiting off this crisis and targeting programs meant to help Americans when they are at their most vulnerable is unacceptable," said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. "Those who would perpetrate such illegal activity during these unprecedented times should know that the FBI and our law enforcement partners haven’t been sitting idly by. We have continued to aggressively identify and pursue those who fraudulently profit from the pandemic to quickly reduce the threat from these scams."

According to Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger who is prosecuting this case for the government, each defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

A charge is not evidence of guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

This prosecution is an example of the Department of Justice’s strong commitment to combating fraud and criminal activity related to COVID-19, which is reflected in the creation of a Coronavirus Fraud Task Force in the Southern District of Indiana. If you receive any forms of suspicious communication related to the COVID-19 crisis, or become aware of family and friends that have received suspicious communications, I ask that you don’t respond directly but instead report the activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721, or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov."

 

EVANSVILLE – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director Chuck Porucznik announce the addition of Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA.

Created by Congress in 1988, the HIDTA task force program, which is under the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), creates a mechanism for coordination of federal, state, local and tribal resources to combat drug trafficking in designated regions of the country.

The HIDTA designation for Vanderburgh County will allow access to federal resources to combat drug distribution and increase enforcement efforts. Law enforcement agencies will now access drug trafficking issues and create Vanderburgh County specific initiatives that will laser focus on outcomes and performance. HIDTA provides unprecedented national connectivity to access drug threats and trends throughout the country.

"The HIDTA program in Indiana is another tool available to law enforcement for the purpose of reducing the terrible effects of illicit drugs on our Hoosier communities." said Minkler. "Adding Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA, will aid law enforcement officers

in southern Indiana by helping to reduce drug distribution networks and other violent crimes associated with illicit drugs."

HIDTA Director Chuck Porucznik said, "The addition of Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA allows 6 counties in the more populated areas of the state to gain focused attention and federal resources to reduce drug related activity and violence. The goal of the HIDTA program is simple, disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through law enforcement coordination."

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon said, "It is an honor for the DEA to oversee the HIDTA initiative for Vanderburgh County. The DEA is committed to working with their state, local and federal counterparts to utilize all available resources provided by the HIDTA to target and dismantle the most violent and dangerous drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in Vanderburgh County and the surrounding area."

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Kenya Dake, 51, of Indianapolis, was sentenced in federal court for perpetrating a 4 ½-year scheme to steal nearly $540,000 from her employer, an Indianapolis-based small business. Dake was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. 

“Fraud on a small business often impacts much more than the bottom line,” said Minkler.  “It can cost people good jobs and breed distrust, especially when perpetrated by a trusted employee. Those who exploit their positions for personal financial gain must be, and will be, held accountable.” 

Dake’s now-former employer is a local consulting firm that, among other things, helps its clients secure federal grants. Dake, who worked at the company since 2012, was the company’s controller and office manager and made an annual salary of approximately $80,000. 

Late last year, federal agents uncovered Dake’s embezzlement scheme and moved to disrupt it as it was happening. The coordinated investigation by four federal law enforcement agencies—the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation—led to search and seizure warrants at Dake’s residence and ultimately federal fraud and money laundering charges. 

The investigation revealed that Dake had been stealing from her employer since at least 2015. As Dake admitted in her guilty plea, she funneled company funds to herself by connecting her personal bank accounts to fictitious “vendors” she created in the company’s bookkeeping system. She also made personal purchases on Amazon with company money. The amounts Dake stole were relatively small at first, a few hundred dollars every couple of months. By mid-2017, they had picked up significantly, averaging nearly $20,000 per month until she was caught in 2019. In all, through hundreds of transactions, she stole nearly $540,000, which she concealed by recording the personal purchases and “vendor” payments in the company’s financial ledger as legitimate company expenses. 

Dake spent the stolen money on routine living expenses (e.g., meals, groceries, and clothing), significant cash withdrawals, several pieces of diamond and platinum jewelry, a new 2019 Honda SUV, and multiple trips to Aruba. 

Federal agents were able to seize the SUV, much of the jewelry, and over $50,000 from two different bank accounts. 

“This sentencing reinforces that fraud on small businesses is something we take seriously,” stated Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI Chicago Field Office.  “IRS-Criminal Investigation is uniquely positioned to investigate financial fraud schemes such as this. We are proud to be able to contribute to this investigation in cooperation with our law enforcement partners.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, investigates any fraud in which the U.S. Mail is used, even if the fraud began another way; the use of the mail is what makes it mail fraud” said Felicia George, Acting Inspector in Charge. “In an effort to uphold the nation’s first consumer protection law, Postal Inspectors enforce the mail fraud statute to the fullest extent possible against those seeking to separate innocent customers and businesses from their money through illegal or nefarious means.”

 “Through her embezzlement, Ms. Dake took advantage of her position and her employer’s trust for her own personal criminal gain. Theft such as this is unacceptable and today’s sentence clearly shows that cooking the books never pays off in the long run,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton, FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who choose to engage in illegal activity and bring these corrupt individuals to justice.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Linder, who prosecuted the case for the government, Dake will serve 37 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and the seized property will be forfeited and Dake must repay all of the money she stole. 

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting complex, long-running fraud schemes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.1

Washington – The Department of Justice‘s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced nearly $42 million in funding to support state-level law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and prescription opioids. 

The Indiana State Police will receive over $2 million in funding to support investigations into trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

“The Indiana State Police are so deserving of this grant money,” said Southern District of Indiana United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “They are on the front lines of this public health crisis by combating the scourge of opioid and methamphetamine use in Indiana. This is just another example of how the Indiana State Police and all law enforcement protect and serve Hoosiers on a daily basis.”

“Today, two grant awards totaling over $2.2 million were awarded to the Indiana State Police. The grant money will be used to focus on combating methamphetamine and heroin distribution in Indiana,” said Northern District of Indiana United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “My Office has put a special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting individuals who distribute addictive drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin, along with other opioids, on the streets of Northern Indiana, and this funding will help continue those efforts. I am pleased to partner with the Indiana State Police and its dedicated troopers who put their lives on the line daily to provide safety for Indiana families.”

“We are extremely thankful and honored to be a recipient of these two grants, which will assist our investigators who work on the front lines of the opioid crisis every day. We are so very proud to collaborate with our law enforcement partners throughout the state in working to make our communities safer for everyone”, said Doug Carter, Superintendent of the Indiana State Police.

Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States. Deaths from drug overdoses are up among both men and women, all races, and adults of nearly all ages, with more than three out of five drug overdose deaths involving an opioid. More than 130 people die every day in the United States after overdosing on opioids, while methamphetamine continues to be one of the most commonly misused stimulant drugs in the world and is the drug that most contributes to violent crime.

The COPS Office is awarding more than $29.7 million in grant funding to 14 state law enforcement agency task forces through the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF).  AHTF provides three years of funding directly to state-level law enforcement agencies with multijurisdictional reach and interdisciplinary team (e.g., task force) structures, in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other opioids. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

The Indiana State Police will receive $1,285,080.00 through the AHTF Program.

Through the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP), the COPS Office is also awarding $12 million to 12 state law enforcement agencies. These state agencies have demonstrated numerous seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. State agencies are being awarded three years of funding through CAMP to support the location or investigation of illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, including precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine trafficking.

The Indiana State Police will receive $1,000,000.00 through the CAMP.

The AHTF and CAMP funding has a tremendous impact on state investigative and seizure work.  During the five month period between October 2019 and February 2020, current AHTF grantees reported the seizure of over $4 million in cash and 1,213 firearms.  Similarly, for CAMP, grantees reported seizures of more than $7 million in cash and 1,577 firearms.

The complete list of Anti-Heroin Task Force Program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/ahtf-award 

The complete list of COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/camp-award

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 135,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov .

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.