Southern District of Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS- Desmond Breedlove, 34, and DaJaun Breedlove, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, have both been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

DaJuan Breedlove was sentenced on September 1, 2023, to over 6 years in federal prison. Desmond Breedlove was sentenced in August to a total of 7 years in federal prison for the current heroin trafficking and firearms charges and an additional 2 years for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. At the time he committed the current crimes, Desmond Breedlove was serving 3 years of federal supervised release. Desmond Breedlove was released from federal prison on April 23, 2019, after serving 30 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on May 29, 2021, IMPD officers were patrolling the area of E. 38th Street near the Conoco gas station on the east side of Indianapolis when two individuals, later identified as Desmond Breedlove and DaJaun Breedlove, were seen conducting a drug deal. Officers also saw handguns protruding out of each man’s pants pockets. After the deal concluded, IMPD officers stopped the men after observing their vehicle commit a traffic violation.

Desmond Breedlove was the driver, and admitted to officers that he did not have a valid driver’s license. DaJuan Breedlove was in the front passenger seat. During a lawful search of the vehicle, officers located two 9-millimeter handguns in the glovebox, three additional magazines loaded with 9-millimeter ammunition, a .380 caliber magazine and a 30-round extended magazine, as well as two small baggies containing 21.27 grams of heroin and a digital scale.

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

“Our families continue to suffer far too many tragedies stemming from substance abuse and gun violence. Everyone deserves a neighborhood that is safe and free from armed drug dealers like these defendants,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend the IMPD, ATF, and our federal prosecutors for their work to make us safer with these prosecutions. The serious federal prison sentences imposed here show that those who deal deadly drugs armed with deadly weapons will be held accountable for the damage they do to our communities.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by Chief United States District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Chief Judge Pratt also ordered that both men be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following their release from federal prison.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Jimmie Ray Harris, 42, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

According to court documents, on September 8, 2021, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Jimmie Ray Harris after he led IMPD officers on a vehicle pursuit. During the chase, Harris threw 907.18 grams of cocaine, 28 grams of methamphetamine and 28 grams of heroin from his vehicle. Harris also had $22,147.50 in cash on his person and in his vehicle at time of arrest. He was charged in Marion County, Indiana with three felonies for dealing in cocaine, methamphetamine, and a narcotic drug, and was placed in custody at the Marion County Jail.

The next day, Harris made an outgoing phone call from jail to another person asking about the drugs and money remaining in his home and discussing efforts to “clean up” the house. Harris asked about customers coming to the house to pay drug debts, and directed the other person to keep track of who owes him money for drugs. Harris told the other person not to worry about the police searching the residence because he gave them the wrong address.

On September 10, 2021, Harris posted an $80,000-surety bond and was released from jail. On September 13, 2021, officers obtained a search warrant for the home Harris referenced on the jail call. During a search of the residence, officers located a total of nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden throughout the house, including on top of the dryer in the laundry room, in a desk drawer, in a DeWalt floor vacuum and a DeWalt bag, in a bedroom closet, and inside of a purse. The search also uncovered a glass meth pipe with burn marks, a loaded 9mm magazine, and $13,909 in cash. A young child was living with Harris in the home at the time of the search. Harris admitted he possessed the methamphetamine in his home with the intent to distribute it to others.

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

“This defendant was determined to keep making money pushing poison into our neighborhoods even while he was in jail for dealing drugs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that there are serious consequences for fueling the devastation that deadly drugs cause in our communities.”

The FBI, IMPD, DEA, and Indiana Crime Guns Task Force investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Harris be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Charles Marshall, 45, of Speedway, Indiana, has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, on August 11, 2022, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration executed federal search warrants at Marshall’s Speedway apartment as a part of an investigation into his drug trafficking activities. In the home, agents located approximately 57.6 grams of fentanyl, a loaded .44 caliber revolver under the bed, a digital scale with drug residue in the bedroom closet, and a blender with drug residue under the kitchen sink. Agents also located 24.9 grams of fentanyl in the headliner of the Chevrolet Equinox Marshall drove just prior to execution of the warrants.

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

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Marshall be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $500 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corbin Houston and Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Arnold Castillo, 23, of Paterson, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

According to court documents, from January to May 2022, Castillo used a false identity, “Jacob Shedletsky,” to communicate with and groom a 15-year-old girl via social media and gaming applications such as Instagram, Roblox, and Discord.

Castillo engaged in grooming behaviors such as buying the girl’s anime artwork using CashApp and purchasing other high-value items on Amazon such as an Artist’s Glove for Drawing Tablet, a Max Smart Tablet Drawing Stand, and a Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13 Windows 10 computer to be delivered to her parents’ home in Indiana.

Castillo intentionally led the girl to believe that he had the ability to connect her to employment opportunities in the online gaming industry and used this leverage to engage in sexually explicit conversations with her. Castillo coerced and persuaded the girl into believing they were in love and that her family was her enemy.

During these conversations, Castillo discussed his plans to arrange for the girl to travel from Indiana to New Jersey so they could be together and engage in sexual activity. Castillo used the Uber application to find and hire a driver in New Jersey to transport the girl the 700 miles to his residence. Castillo paid the driver $500 through CashApp before they left New Jersey, and another $500 in cash when they returned with the victim.

When the girl arrived at Castillo’s New Jersey residence, Castillo sexually abused her on multiple occasions and used Uber to have others purchase or attempt to purchase the “Plan B” pill to prevent the child from becoming pregnant.

For days, Castillo kept the girl in New Jersey and continued to abuse her, knowing that her family and law enforcement were desperately searching for her. In a recorded phone interview on May 5, 2022, Castillo lied to law enforcement officers, stating that he had no idea where she was and that she must have run away.

On May 11, 2022, eight days after the girl was reported missing, FBI agents recovered her from Castillo as the two were walking in front of his residence. At the time of his arrest, Castillo had several unopened condoms in his pocket. Castillo admitted to law enforcement agents that he kept the victim in his care, custody, and control in a small room and controlled her movements in and out of the room. He also controlled her access to food and basic necessities, knowing that she had no financial resources or ability to travel back to Indiana.

“No parent should have to endure eight torturous days not knowing if their child is alive or dead, only to learn that a stranger used social media and other online tools to groom their child and spirit them across the country,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant is a stone-cold, manipulative, child predator who used the tools of social media and gaming to abuse a vulnerable child and then obstructed the efforts of law enforcement officers to secure her safe return home. I commend the outstanding work of local law enforcement agencies along with the FBI’s Indianapolis and Newark Field Offices for working around the clock for eight days to bring the victim home safely. Thanks to the outstanding work of these law enforcement officers and our federal prosecutor, this dangerous predator will be unable to harm another child.”

“This was a horrible nightmare for both the child lured away from home under false pretenses and the family who was left to worry about where she was, if she was safe, and if they would ever see her again,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our partners will always do everything in our power to safely recover a child and reunite them with their loved ones.”

The FBI Indianapolis and FBI in Paterson, New Jersey investigated this case along with local law enforcement. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Castillo be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim.

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

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

If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood

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INDIANAPOLIS- Shaylor Goer, 47, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2022, IMPD officers were dispatched to Dearborn Street in Indianapolis, Indiana at 6 a.m. to investigate complaints of a suspicious individual. Upon arrival, officers saw Goer and requested that he stop. Goer did not comply, and instead ran down an alley, leading officers on a brief foot chase. Goer was eventually stopped and arrested. During a search of Goer’s person, officers found an empty gun holster on his hip. Officers searched the surrounding area and found a Kimber .45 caliber semiautomatic firearm on top of a trash can, belonging to Goer.

Goer is prohibited by federal law from ever possessing a firearm due to his fourteen previous felony convictions including two counts of failure to register as a sex or violent offender, two counts of domestic battery, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor between the age of 13-17, manufacture/distribution of a look-alike substance, unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of cocaine, and burglary.

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

“Individuals with a history of violence and criminal activity should never be able to get their hands on a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Under the L.E.A.T.H initiative, it is a priority of our office, IMPD, and ATF to weed out those who pose the highest risk to those closest to them and the community as a whole. Holding dangerous, repeat offenders accountable for illegally possessing firearms is a critical part of this initiative.”

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

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Keith Martin, 43, Edwin Sims, 31, and James Alexander, 36, of Kokomo, Indiana, have all been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to a coordinated bank theft of $204,918. Edwin Sims also pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, on November 16, 2021, at approximately 2: l7pm, officers with the Kokomo Police Department (KPD) responded to a bank near West Jefferson Street after the armed robbery of a Garda armored truck. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the driver of the armored truck, Keith Martin, who stated that while an employee went into the bank to service the ATM, an armed robber, later determined to be Edwin Sims, entered the back of the Garda truck. Sims approached Martin and took his firearm and cell phone, then stole $204,918 in cash from the armored truck. Sims fled the scene in a red Cadillac driven by co-conspirator, James Alexander.

While investigating the robbery, officers received additional video from inside the armored truck for the entire day of November 16th. At two different stops prior to the robbery, Martin can be seen on his phone, as the same red Cadillac drives past the armored truck.

When Sims entered the truck, Martin immediately leaned to the left, making it simple to remove his firearm. Martin handed his cell phone and firearm to Sims, without any coercion. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the cell phone records of Martin and discovered that Martin had made several calls with James Alexander prior to the robbery.

On November 30, 2021, FBI agents arrested Alexander on an outstanding warrant for Criminal Recklessness. During an interview with investigators, Alexander stated that after the bank theft, the trio met at a Motel 6 to split the money and give Martin his cell phone back.

On December 1, 2021, Martin was arrested while driving a GMC Yukon. FBI agents recovered $32,278 in a shoebox and a Glock 19 inside the vehicle. An additional search of the red Cadillac used in the getaway was also conducted, uncovering $35,387 inside a backpack.

On December 8, 2021, officers attempted to arrest Sims in Indianapolis. Sims fled but was taken into custody at East l6th Street and Campbell Avenue. Officers located 17.9 grams of cocaine base and 52 grams of cocaine individually bagged for sale next to Sims at the time of his arrest.

Keith Martin was sentenced in July 2023 to seven months in federal prison. Edwin Sims was sentenced in March 2023 to 12.5 years’ imprisonment. James Alexander was sentenced in August 2023 to 27 months’ imprisonment. The three defendants were each ordered to pay $135,792.85 in restitution.

“This brazen conspiracy was quickly unraveled by the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI, Kokomo Police, and DEA,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies will continue to prioritize working with our local partners to address violent crime in our communities. The convictions and sentences in this case demonstrate that that these serious crimes carry serious consequences.”

“The FBI is committed to investigating violent crime and pursuing those who commit these offenses which this sentence clearly demonstrates,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The rapid response and outstanding investigative work by the FBI, the Kokomo Police Department, and the DEA ensured these three defendants are behind bars where they belong.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Kokomo Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Martin, Sims, and Alexander be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office following their release from federal prison for 2, 3, 3, years respectively.

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

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EVANSVILLE- Michael Hines, 39, of Evansville, Indiana, has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on May 17, 2017, Michael Hines used his smart phone to record videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with Minor Female A. At the time of the offense, the Minor Victim was 4 years old.

“The sexual abuse of a toddler is as heinous a crime as a person can commit,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The public and the victim are safer today because this defendant will spend many years in federal prison. I commend the work of the FBI, the Evansville Police Department, and our federal prosecutor to ensure that this dangerous pedophile is held accountable for his actions.”

“This sentence ensures the defendant can no longer prey on innocent children and our community will be a much safer place without him on the streets,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “We are committed to working alongside valued partners like the Evansville Police Department to protect our children from predators such as this.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young ordered that Hines be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Additionally, Hines must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, and goes to school.

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

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

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EVANSVILLE- Gabrial Isaac Appel, 28, of Cynthiana, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Gabrial Appel trafficked methamphetamine in the southwest Indiana area from November 2019 through 2020. On October 20, 2020, Appel orchestrated the shipment of over 1.4 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from California to his parents’ house in Cynthiana, Indiana. Law enforcement officers intercepted the methamphetamine before delivering the package to the home. Appel’s mother received the package and informed officers that she was getting it for her son, who sent him text messages inquiring about the delivery. Appel also tracked the status of the package using his cellular phone.

The investigation revealed that Appel had shipped multiple packages containing methamphetamine to the same residence over the past year.

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

“Drug traffickers like this defendant seek to make easy money by bringing poisons from across the country to harm all of our communities, including smaller towns right here in southwest Indiana,” said U.S. Attorney, Zachary A. Myers. “Methamphetamine and other deadly drugs have devastating impacts on the lives of families in every community. I am grateful for the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and our federal prosecutor to disrupt this drug trafficker and hold him accountable.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Appel be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Evelio Santana, 40, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on November 15, 2021, investigators with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the FBI, were conducting surveillance on Evelio Santana who had six outstanding warrants for his arrest. Investigators watched Santana pull into the parking lot of a gas station on 38th street in a Polaris UTV. This Polaris UTV was later discovered to have been stolen in Marion County, Indiana.

IMPD officers approached Santana and attempted to place him in custody. As the officers made their presence known, Santana took off running. Eventually, officers arrested him after he fell during the foot pursuit. During a search of Santana’s person, a loaded, semi-automatic handgun fell out of his waistband.

That same day, investigators searched a stolen motorhome which had been in Santana’s possession and recovered a Sig Sauer M400 rifle. The defendant admitted to knowingly possessing both firearms.

Santana is prohibited from ever lawfully possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions of two counts of robbery, burglary, auto theft, and multiple thefts.

“Deadly weapons in the hands of violent criminals fuel the shootings and deaths that have devastating impacts on our families,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend the FBI, ISP, and IMPD for their efforts to make our communities safer and hold illegally armed criminals accountable. This sentence should send a message to everyone returning to the community after a conviction for a violent felony. We want you to be successful, contributing, and law-abiding. If you choose to pick up a gun instead, you face a serious term in federal prison.”

“The message sent by this sentence is clear—if you have a prior conviction that makes possessing a firearm illegal and you choose to ignore that prohibition, you will face significant prison time,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “In partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement, the FBI will continue to work diligently to protect our communities from those who have no regard for the law.”

“The Indiana State Police will continue to work with its law enforcement partners at all levels to help keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not legally allowed to possess them, and to hold them accountable for their unlawful actions,” said Captain Ron Galaviz of the Indiana State Police.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, IMPD and Indiana State Police investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Santana be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS –Richard A. Wells, a/k/a Council, 30, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Wells was the final of 20 defendants to be sentenced in this conspiracy.

According to court documents, Wells was a member of a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated in the Indianapolis area from February 2019 through July 14, 2021. The organization was led by Jason Betts, a resident of Indianapolis, who coordinated the receipt of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Los Angeles, California and organized the distribution of the controlled substances in Indianapolis. Betts was previously sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by Judge Hanlon following his guilty plea.

In February of 2023, Rick P. Coley, 36, of Indianapolis, and David K. Duggar, 40, of Greenwood, were convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-week jury trial. Both Coley and Duggar served as upper-level drug distributors for Betts. Judge Hanlon sentenced Coley to 30 years’ imprisonment and Duggar to 23 years.

The investigation resulted in the indictment and conviction of twenty total defendants for their roles in the organization’s drug trafficking activity. The organization distributed approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine and 15 kilograms of fentanyl during its operation.

Other sentences include the following:

Defendant

Charge

Sentence

Jennifer J. Black, 41, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

21 years’ imprisonment

Aleshalia Boss, 43, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and Distribution of Fentanyl

22 years’ imprisonment

Brittany Cocco, 33, Indianapolis

Unlawful use of a cell phone

Time Served

Kenneth K. Fielder, 28, Bloomfield

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

4.5 years’ imprisonment

Stephen Grider, a/k/a Compton, 42, Los Angeles, California

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

14 years’ imprisonment

Donta L. Hampton, 36, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

18 years’ imprisonment

Justin Helms, age, Spencer, Indiana

Conspiracy to distribute controlled

4.5 years’ imprisonment

Colin Johnson, 30, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

5 years’ imprisonment

Brian McGee, 44, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

10 years’ imprisonment. 

William K. Mosier, 43, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

10 years’ imprisonment.

Christina Pennington, 26, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

1.5 years’ imprisonment

Mar-Kel Sampson, 31, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

2 years’ imprisonment

Marco Uribe, 43, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

10 years imprisonment

Asa Vetters, 32, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

10 years’ imprisonment. 

Montez L. Wells, 32, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

20 years’ imprisonment

Carl T. Wilson, a/k/a Bud, 36, Indianapolis

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

10 years’ imprisonment

“Drug trafficking organizations who push fentanyl and methamphetamine into our communities seek profits without regard for the deaths and lasting trauma they cause,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District for Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Dismantling these criminal networks through comprehensive investigations and prosecutions is a top priority for federal, state, and local law enforcement. The convictions and sentences imposed here demonstrate that trafficking in these very deadly drugs carries very serious consequences.”

“Due to extraordinary investigative work by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, a significant drug trafficking organization has been dismantled, and 20 of its members have been brought to justice,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “These criminals profited from peddling illegal drugs that destroy lives and families. The sentencing of the final defendant in this case closes the book on this criminal enterprise, preventing them from bringing further harm to the community.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Police, National Guard of the United States, and Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

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

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

 

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TERRE HAUTE- Paul Hoopingarner, 62, of Terre Haute, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, three counts of receiving child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, beginning in at least January 2021, and continuing to at least February 2021, Hoopingarner used Kik to distribute and receive images and videos of the sexual abuse of children as young as eight-years-old. Hoopingarner used the screenname “domeeasey69” to communicate and share images and videos of adults engaged in sex acts with children with others who were also sexually interested in children. The material Hoopingarner shared and stored included depictions of the sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence as well as depictions of the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.

Hoopingarner is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against children, following his 1996 conviction for Child Molesting in Morgan County, Indiana.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, and Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Pedophiles use the perceived anonymity of communications apps to share horrific images of child sex abuse and communicate with like-minded criminals,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant engaged in a series of horrific crimes and abuses against children, online and off, and he has now been held accountable for his actions. Thanks to the outstanding work of the Secret Service, Indiana State Police, and our federal prosecutor, the serious federal prison sentence imposed here ensures that he will never again harm a child.” 

The United States Secret Service and Indiana State Police Investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon ordered that Hoopingarner be supervised by the U.S. Probation office for the rest of his life following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- James Lancaster, 42, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail theft. A co-conspirator, Jordan McPhearson, of Blue Island, Illinois was sentenced in 2022 to 42 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to court documents, James Lancaster was employed as the Manager of Customer Service at the New Augusta Post Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Between May 11, 2020, and June 23, 2021, Lancaster used his position at the Post Office to steal checks from the mail. Lancaster gave the stolen checks to Jordan McPhearson, sometimes receiving cash in exchange. McPhearson fraudulently negotiated the stolen checks, depositing them into an account belonging to someone other than the intended payee. Occasionally, McPhearson provide stolen checks to an additional co-conspirator, Lavaris Yarbrough, who fraudulently negotiated them.

Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Lancaster stole more than 270 pieces of U.S. mail from the New Augusta Post Office. This mail contained checks from more than 50 different local businesses, including a non-profit dedicated to cancer research. In total, the value of the stolen checks was approximately $1.7 million.

The final defendant, Lavaris Yarbrough will be sentenced in late September.

The United States Postal Service- Office of Inspector General investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt and Judge Sarah Evans Barker. The courts ordered that Lancaster and McPhearson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following their release from federal prison and pay $88,376.12 in restitution.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- David Julien, 65, of Richmond, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to receipt of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on the night of January 2, 2022, the defendant, David Julien, was making French fries in his kitchen. He left the kitchen to eat them, forgetting the hot grease on the stove and starting a fire in his kitchen. The Richmond Fire Department (RFD) responded, extinguished the fire, and began an investigation into its cause.

While inside, a Deputy Fire Chief found notebooks on a dresser that contained pictures of child sexual abuse. Officers with the Richmond Police Department spoke to Julien, who admitted that “there will be thousands and thousands and thousands more of those photos.”

Julien consented to a search of his house. During the search, officers located eight colored binders that had printed photographs of child sexual abuse material.

Officers also found a computer with approximately 10 external hard drives and 2 internal hard drives. Located near the computer were an additional 5 hard drives that contained well over 100,000 child sex abuse material images and over 3,000 videos, including those of bondage and bestiality. One hard drive had approximately 722,000 CSAM images and 29,000 CSAM videos. The child sexual abuse materials Julien collected and repeatedly viewed dated back to at least 2017. Julien’s collection of child sexual abuse images and videos included depictions of children being subjected to sadomasochistic sexual abuse and bestiality, as well as depictions of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office, Chief Michael Britt of the Richmond Police Department, Tim Brown, Interim Fire Chief of the Richmond Fire Department made the announcement.

“For years this defendant collected over a million depictions of children being subjected to horrific sexual abuses—including rapes of babies and toddlers,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “He didn’t care about the trauma that was inflicted and perpetuated, so long as he could enjoy the heinous material he craved. Thanks to the Richmond Fire and Police Departments, the U.S. Secret Service, and our federal prosecutors, our children are safer, and this pedophile is behind bars where he belongs.”

The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Richmond Police and Fire Departments. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Julien be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison and register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, and goes to school.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Robert Solomon, 38, of Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on August 16, 202l, Madison County Drug Task Force served a federal search warrant at Solomon’s home in Anderson, Indiana, following a years’ long investigation into his drug trafficking activities. Investigators located and seized 97 grams of methamphetamine inside a purple Crown Royal bag on the kitchen counter, 85 grams of “crack” cocaine, two digital scales, two vacuum sealers and bags, and two .22 caliber handguns.

Shortly thereafter, Solomon was stopped by an Anderson Police Department officer for a traffic violation. A K-9 was used to sniff the vehicle and alerted to the odor of controlled substances. Officers searched Solomon’s Lexus and seized approximately $41,369 in cash hidden inside a cereal box.

During a recorded interview with investigators, Solomon admitted that he had been trafficking drugs for at least a year, including methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. Solomon also stated that he worked with a man from Mexico, who supplied the drugs that Solomon then distributed in the Anderson area.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, Michael Gannon, Chief Michael Lee of the Anderson Police Department, and Madison County Sheriff, John Beeman made the announcement.

“We know that a majority of the meth plaguing our streets ultimately comes from international cartels operating across the southern border,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Cutting off suppliers who are responsible for selling and transporting drugs from transnational criminal organizations is a priority of federal law enforcement. We, alongside DEA and state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Anderson Police and Madison County Drug Task Force, are committed to weeding out these offenders and stopping their distribution of these poisons in our communities.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Anderson Police Department, and the Madison County Drug Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Solomon be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Thomas Burkett, 45, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 77 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

According to court documents, on August 4, 2021, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) investigators were patrolling near the Marathon gas station on North Shadeland Avenue when they saw Thomas Burkett exit the driver’s seat of a white Pontiac with a pistol protruding from his pant pocket.

Officers ran the Pontiac’s license plate and determined that Burkett was the registered owner of the vehicle and had a suspended driver’s license. Investigators reviewed Burkett’s criminal history and learned that he had been previously convicted of numerous felonies, including strangulation, kidnapping, escape, theft, possession of marijuana, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. As a result of his criminal convictions Burkett is prohibited from ever legally possessing a firearm.

Officers detained Burkett before he left the gas station and recovered a black 9mm handgun from under the driver’s seat of Burkett’s car.

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

“Multiple convictions for violent crimes were not enough to convince this offender to stop carrying a deadly weapon,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should send a message to citizens returning to the community from custody: if you choose to possess a gun you will go right back to prison. Our office will continue to partner with the ATF and IMPD to ensure that the most dangerous armed offenders are taken off our streets.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Burkett be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Kyree Bryce Harris, 25, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal following a 2-day jury trial in May 2023.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on the morning of June 17, 2022, IMPD officers were called to Ethel Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana on a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in front of the Twenty Fifth Street Baptist church all night. When officers arrived, they encountered Harris asleep in the vehicle with a handgun tucked next to his leg, between the driver’s seat and center console.  The gun had previously been reported stolen.  On scene and at trial, Harris admitted he carried the gun for protection. 

Because Harris was a convicted felon, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms.  His felony convictions stemmed from a string of six armed robberies of Indianapolis-area convenience stores and Family Dollar stores that he committed in January 2017, for which he was also convicted federally.  

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

“Armed career criminals like this defendant fuel the gun violence plaguing too many of our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Six prior convictions for armed robbery were not enough to disarm this criminal, but the serious sentence imposed here will protect the public from the danger he poses. I commend the officers who intervened and helped ensure that this defendant was held accountable for his actions.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Harris be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison and be subject to a $200 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Oluwatobi Seton, 28, of Bloomington, Indiana, has been sentenced to nearly 5.5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents, Seton conspired with partners in Nigeria to obtain unemployment and other benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic from state and federal governments by falsely applying for such benefits using the stolen identities of others.  Seton and her co-conspirators obtained personal identifiable information of their victims, which they used to open GoBank accounts and obtain debit cards. The conspirators then submitted false and fraudulent employment applications to unemployment agencies throughout the United States in the victims’ names and had the stolen benefits monies deposited into their fraudulent GoBank accounts and onto debit cards. Seton then used fake driver’s licenses in the victims’ names to access the proceeds of the fraud scheme. At the time of her arrest, Seton had over 1,400 GoBank cards and ten driver’s licenses with different names in her possession.

In total, the conspiracy resulted in at least $5,475,459.00 in actual and attempted losses to state unemployment offices and other state and federal agencies: Seton kept a portion of the proceeds for herself and sent the remainder to her conspirators, including her business partners in Nigeria. Investigators seized over $550,000 in cash and GoBank accounts linked to the scheme during the investigation.

“This international criminal enterprise conspired to steal millions of dollars meant to help our citizens as we fought through the unprecedented pandemic,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Fraudsters like this defendant who sought to exploit the urgent need to provide pandemic relief must be held accountable. I commend the work of our partners at the FBI, Bloomington Police Department, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, along with our federal prosecutors, to identify criminals like this defendant and ensure that they pay the price for their crimes.”

“Profiting from programs meant to help those in need is a despicable and unacceptable crime in and of itself. But this defendant took it a step further and stole identities to perpetrate this fraud and caused those victims immeasurable time in an effort to clear their names,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our local law enforcement partners will continue to identify and aggressively pursue those who commit fraud and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bloomington Police Department, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Seton be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following her release from federal prison and pay restitution in the amount of $4,309,027.00.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Vimalkumar Trivedi, 41, of Plainfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to the possession of false identity documents and operating an unlicensed money transfer business.

According to court documents, from April 2017 through April 1, 2021, Trivedi defrauded multiple victims, including some elderly individuals, into sending cash to various locations, including Indianapolis via FedEx. Trivedi and his co-conspirators in the U.S. and India masqueraded as federal law enforcement agents and told the victims that their Social Security numbers had been found in connection with criminal activity, often narcotics trafficking. The criminals stated that the victims would be arrested if they did not immediately withdraw large sums of cash and mail it to fictitious individuals.

Trivedi tracked the packages of money sent by fraud victims to the fictitious recipients and picked them up at multiple FedEx locations. In each instance, Trivedi used a false identification document in the name of the listed package recipient. In total, Trivedi possessed at least 53 false identification documents, each with his picture but containing different identifying information. He used these false identification documents to pick up at least 122 packages containing $901,124 in cash proceeds of the fraud. Trivedi kept $60,000 stolen from victims for his own use and forwarded the remainder to his associates.

Through the investigation, law enforcement agents have identified and confirmed approximately 17 victims, identified approximately 50 other suspected victims, and identified approximately $1.5 million in losses to the victims.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office; Welber Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Norfolk Field Office, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division; and Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, OIG made the announcement.

“International fraud conspiracies steal from hard-working people using lies, manipulation, and fear,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “These vicious crimes often devastate families and individuals victimized by these heartless thieves. The sentence in this case demonstrates that fraudsters seeking a quick buck will pay a heavy price for their crimes. I commend the dedication of the FBI, NCIS, Postal Inspection Service, and Social Security Administration OIG, to hold these criminals accountable and seek justice for victims.”

“The sentence imposed on the defendant sends a very clear message to those who attempt to profit from fraud. You will be caught, and you will face time behind bars,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Protecting the community from becoming victims of these types of schemes will always be a priority for the FBI and our partners.”

“Mr. Trivedi’s conspirators threatened and scared innocent victims into sending him large sums of money in a vile scheme for which he deserves to be held fully accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Welber Hickman of the NCIS Norfolk Field Office. “This sentencing should serve as a warning that NCIS and our partners will expose and bring to justice those who seek to defraud our nation’s warfighters and their families.”

“Trivedi was part of an imposter scam that used scare tactics and identity theft to scam innocent victims out of hard-earned money. Today’s sentence shows that such behavior will not be tolerated,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and work on this case.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Trivedi be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.  

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Patrick A. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Robenson Fenelon, 31, and Squille Traxler, 30, of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to 54 months (4.5 years) and 15 months, respectively, in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and theft of stolen mail. Fenelon additionally plead guilty to aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, from at least January 2019 through December 2020, Fenelon and Traxler conspired with mail carriers in a scheme to steal the identities of at least fifty victims in Fishers and Indianapolis and used that information to defraud financial institutions of a total of $244,222.93.

At the time of the offenses, Traxler was employed as a Mail Carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. Fenelon recruited Traxler to assist in identifying potential identity theft targets. Fenelon and Traxler used Traxler’s access to the mail to obtain the targets’ identity information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and bank account numbers. Fenelon then used that information to access and take over the victims’ bank accounts or to open new bank accounts in the victims’ names.

Fenelon contacted the victims’ banks, purporting to the victims or their relatives, and requested a new debit or credit card for the victim’s account. For the newly established accounts, Fenelon applied online or over the phone for new accounts and credit cards. Fenlon and Traxler then stole the credit cards from the victims’ mail. Fenelon and Traxler used the cards to withdraw cash and make personal purchases. They stole checks from the mail and deposited them into the bank accounts they controlled.

“Fraud schemes using stolen mail cause significant hardship to innocent victims and undermine trust in a vital government service,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Fraudsters must be held accountable, especially those criminals who abuse the public’s trust in service of their own greed. We will continue to work diligently with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to ensure that those who steal from the public pay a significant price.”

“Protecting the U.S. Mail and our customers is the core mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Postal Inspectors worked aggressively on this case to track down and identify the subjects involved with stealing mail and committing fraud. I commend the collective efforts of all agencies involved in bringing these individuals to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division.

“These sentences represent our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity and trust in the U.S. Mail,” said Scott Pierce, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The majority of postal employees are hard-working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination.  The USPS OIG, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”

The United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Fenelon and Traxler be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 and 2 years, respectively, following their release from federal prison and pay $244,222.93 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Tyler Sanders, 41, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 183 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in February of 2019, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents became aware of a large drug trafficking operation in Indianapolis that was responsible for transporting drug proceeds to Mexico. On April 5, 2019, HSI agents conducting surveillance of the residence saw Sanders load a Chevrolet Suburban with large, black, plastic trash bags. Sanders left the residence while driving the Suburban.

IMPD officers conducted a traffic stop of the Suburban for speeding along Massachusetts Avenue. Upon obtaining a positive K-9 alert on the vehicle, officers located the black plastic trash bags in the rear of the vehicle. Inside the plastic bags, officers located smaller, plastic bags containing a total of 33.51 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.98 kilograms of plastic wrapped “bricks” that tested positive for fentanyl.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, R. Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Chicago, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, and IMPD Police Chief, Randal Taylor made the announcement.

“We know that a majority of the fentanyl and meth plaguing our streets ultimately comes from international cartels operating across the southern border,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Cutting off suppliers who are responsible for selling and transporting drugs from Mexican cartels is a priority of federal law enforcement. We, alongside HSI and DEA, are committed to weeding out these offenders and making an example of their criminal behavior with serious federal prison sentences.”

Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Police, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney II. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Sanders be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $2,000 fine.  

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

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Brianna Yerkey, 21, of Struthers, Ohio, has been sentenced to 6 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

According to court documents, beginning in February 2021, and continuing through June 2021, Brianna Yerkey intentionally defrauded the federal government and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD) by exploiting the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funding authorized by the CARES Act.

Specifically, Yerkey used Facebook and Snapchat to advertise to perspective clients that she would file Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applications on their behalf and prepare and submit their weekly PUA vouchers in exchange for a fee of between $500 and $1,300. Yerkey instructed perspective clients to establish an online account with IDWD and provide her with the username and password so she could log in to their accounts. 

As part of the scheme, Yerkey provided false and fraudulent information regarding the applicant’s residential address, employment, unemployment, and whether the applicant was presently residing in Indiana. Yerkey also falsely stated that their unemployment was connected to the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain unemployment benefits from the IDWD to which her clients were not entitled. 

Yerkey attempted to conceal her crimes by providing details in the PUA applications that would create the false impression the applicants were university students in Indiana. Yerkey intentionally used university addresses and employment dates that would align with summer school break so that IDWD would not suspect fraud if the applicant provided an out of state driver’s license for proof of identity.

In total, Yerkey submitted false and fraudulent claims to the IDWD totaling approximately $287,311 in unemployment benefits.

“Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the CARES Act was a lifeline for thousands of Americans suffering economic disaster directly related to COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Ms. Yerkey exploited a federal program, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help our most vulnerable populations in a time of instability. These selfish, greedy actions must be rectified. I am grateful for the work of the FBI that led to today’s sentence.”

“People in desperate need turned to the defendant for help, and she pocketed that money,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our partners won’t idly sit by and let schemes like this occur but will relentlessly pursue those who fraudulently profit at the expense of others.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Yerkey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following her release from federal prison and pay $125,271 in restitution. 

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

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

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

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EVANSVILLE- Kalib Scott Powell, 29 of Evansville, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing fentanyl resulting in death.

According to court documents, on February 21, 2019, Powell sold J.H. a half-gram of fentanyl powder in exchange for United States currency. On February 23, 2019, J.H. overdosed and died. Her cause of death was determined to be fentanyl intoxication.

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to the overdose and recovered J.H.’s cell phone. An examination of that phone revealed a conversation about the planned purchase of fentanyl from Powell. It was uncovered that Powell had previously been warned by a customer after she sampled the fentanyl powder that it was very strong and “someone was going to die” from the ingestion of it. Nevertheless, Powell continued to sell the fentanyl powder knowing the danger.

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

“Fentanyl is a powerful and lethal poison that traffickers sell with utter disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A, Myers. “The serious prison sentence imposed here will not bring the victim back to their family, but it is an important measure of accountability and justice. We will continue our efforts with the DEA and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office to hold fentanyl dealers accountable for the devastation they cause, and hopefully save others from suffering the same tragic fate.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Powell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Matthew Hostetler, 26, of Greensburg, Indiana, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, on January 16, 2020, a Winnebago County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Department investigation uncovered Matthew Hostetler’s involvement in a Kik Messenger group chat created for individuals interested in child sexual abuse material. Hostetler hid behind the username “WARRIORHEART1997” and sent graphic sexual abuse videos and images of a then 11-year-old girl he referred to as “Lola.”

On April 16, 2021, FBI agents and Greensburg Police Department Officers executed a search warrant at Hostetler’s Indiana home and seized his cell phone. Many of the images Hostetler traded over Kik were coerced from the minor via Snapchat. Hostetler bragged to other members of the group chat that “it took two months to get to this point with her (Lola), you gotta be patient and kind and sweet,” and “she’s in love with me. She literally jumps to do what I ask.”

“Lola” told investigators that she met Hostetler on the internet. She told him that she was 13 years old and lived with her grandparents in Oklahoma. Hostetler instructed her not to tell her Grandparents she was talking to him, or she would get in trouble. “Lola” stated that Hostetler routinely threated her if she did not send him sexually explicit images and videos. Further, Hostetler coached the 11-year-old on where to touch herself during the videos.  

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

“It has long been the case that many pedophiles like this defendant use online platforms such as Kik and Snapchat to prey on children, and even preteens,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “These criminals use lies, manipulation, and threats to sexually exploit children with utter disregard for the lasting trauma they inflict. I urge parents and guardians to talk to the children in their lives about what they’re doing online and make sure they have trusted adults they can turn to for help. I commend the FBI, the Winnebago County (Oklahoma) Sheriff’s Department, and the Greensburg Police Department for their work to seek justice for this victim and protect other children from this online predator.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, and Greensburg Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Hostetler be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 30 years following his release from prison. Hostetler must also register as a sex offender where he lives, works, and goes to school.

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

If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- David Taylor, 48, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on February 5, 2021, investigators with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) stopped Taylor for a traffic violation as he was driving south on US 31 onto North Keystone Avenue. Officers approached the vehicle and immediately observed a firearm resting on the Taylor’s lap. Taylor was also driving with a suspended license.

Officers seized the firearm and detained Taylor. An IMPD K9 sniffed the air surrounding the car and indicated the presence of illegal drugs. Officers searched the car and recovered approximately 333.54 grams of pure methamphetamine from the center console. In an interview with investigators, Taylor stated that he purchased the methamphetamine for $3,500 and would be paid $500 for delivering it to an individual in Indianapolis. Taylor further admitted to making other methamphetamine deliveries previously between South Bend and Fort Wayne.

Taylor is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions for theft, robbery, arson, and intimidation.

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

“Deadly drugs and deadly weapons—especially in the hands of criminals who have repeatedly engaged in violent crimes—are a scourge on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “The serious prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these offenses will not be tolerated. I commend the work of the ATF and IMPD to stem the flow of poisons into our neighborhoods and take guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals who have no business possessing them.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case, with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Taylor be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 8 years following his release from federal prison and pay an $800 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Lisa Raines, 52, of Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

According to court documents, from March 2006 until November 2016, Rains was a Senior Finance Technician for Seven Corners, a travel insurance business located in Carmel. During her tenure, Raines was responsible for processing claims and releasing payments for disbursement. As part of her duties, Raines had access to the company’s payments systems.

In March 2006, around the time she started her role as a Senior Finance Technician for Seven Corners, Raines opened a bank account in the name of “L & B Tape, Co.,” a business that did not exist. Raines then entered her fake business as a vendor in Seven Corners’ payment system. Between 2006 and 2016 Raines made sixty-five payments from Seven Corners to her fake business, stealing $2,129,689.86 from her employer.

Raines used the stolen money for her own personal use. For example, in November 2011, Raines used money stolen from her employer to purchase a house in Anderson Indiana for over $600,000. In November 2015, Raines used stolen money to purchase “Mardi’s Gras Too,” a restaurant in Lapel, Indiana.

“For over a decade, the defendant abused her position of trust to steal millions of dollars from her employer to satisfy her own greed,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the FBI to ensure that those who commit serious financial crimes face serious criminal punishment. The prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that those who seek to profit from fraud and deceit will pay the price behind federal prison bars.”

“The defendant abused her position and took advantage of the trust and confidence placed in her by her employer.” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This sentence clearly demonstrates that those who commit fraud will be caught, prosecuted and held accountable.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Raines be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison and pay $2.1 million in restitution to her former employer.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and James M. Warden, who prosecuted this case.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers will attend community events in the surrounding Indianapolis areas.

“A positive, ongoing relationship between neighbors and law enforcement is vital to building trust and keeping the public safe,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “It is important for people to see that we are a part of the communities we serve. Through events like National Night Out, community members can place a friendly face to the law enforcement agencies that serve to protect them and engage in meaningful discussions about crime, safety, and responsibility.”

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. 

National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.

Coordinated by local law enforcement agencies and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.

For more information, visit https://natw.org/.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Kelvin Henderson, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 1 year in federal prison after pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

According to court documents, between April 2 and April 26, 2021, Kelvin Henderson visited a federally licensed Indiana firearms dealer at its Indianapolis, Carmel, and Lebanon locations. In total, Henderson purchased six Glock 9mm handguns and one Ruger AR-556. Multiple purchases of identical firearms in a short period of time is indicative of gun trafficking. As part of each purchase, Henderson falsely stated on required federal firearms transaction forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearms. In fact, Henderson illegally purchased the guns on behalf of others, a gun trafficking scheme known as “straw purchasing.”

A straw purchase scheme is when a person not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm falsely states to a federally licensed gun dealer that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else, frequently someone who is prohibited from purchasing or possessing the firearm themselves.

Surveillance video from the gun dealer showed Henderson handing one of the firearms he purchased to another person immediately after leaving the store. In an interview with investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Henderson admitted that he used Instagram to arrange to purchase the guns for two individuals, including one who he stated was a student at an Indianapolis high school and too young to purchase firearms legally.

“Gun traffickers who put deadly weapons in the hands of people with no business having them fuel the epidemic of gun violence in our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Today’s gun traffickers are using Instagram and other social media platforms to illegally put guns in the hands of children and criminals. Together with our partners at ATF we will make our neighborhoods safer by targeting the sources of crime guns and holding illegal gun traffickers accountable.”

“Kelvin Henderson not only illegally purchased firearms, but he did so knowingly risking the lives of minors and the safety of our community. Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCormick. “ATF and its law enforcement partners will identify and hold accountable those individuals who continue to contribute to the violence in our cities.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Henderson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Kevin Troutman, 45, of Westfield, Indiana was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting two minors and possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on January 24, 2022, Westfield Police Department detectives and the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force opened an investigation into Kevin Troutman after receiving an online tip submitted to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The tipster stated that they walked in on Troutman viewing an image of the sexual exploitation of a 4–6-year-old girl.

After an investigation, on January 27, 2022, officers executed a search warrant at Troutman’s home in Westfield. Law enforcement officers seized numerous electronic devices and data storage media, which were found to contain multiple sexually explicit images or videos of children.

Further investigation of Troutman’s cell phone revealed that he had been anonymously searching the internet for child sexual abuse material using an encrypted browser. A complete investigation of Troutman’s devices revealed evidence showing Troutman’s sexual exploitation of a child less than 14 years of age and the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of a child who was less than 6 years of age.

In 1997, Troutman was convicted of Vicarious Sexual Gratification, a Class C felony. Due to his previous felony conviction, Troutman was registered as a Sexually Violent Predator in Indiana at the time of this arrest.

“Across nearly three decades, the defendant sexually abused or exploited at least three different children and gratified himself through the exploitation of many more,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “There is no place in our communities for dangerous, repeat child predators. The sentence imposed today shows that our office, HSI, and local child exploitation task force partners will work tirelessly to ensure these heinous offenders are behind bars, where they cannot cause further harm to our children.”

“HSI works with its local, state and federal partners around the clock to protect children from victimization by predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago area of operations Sean Fitzgerald. “Because of exceptional efforts by our HSI agents, a previously convicted child sex offender has been sent to federal prison to serve a lengthy sentence, where he will be unable to victimize other vulnerable children.”

This investigation was a result of the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fishers Police Department, Westfield Police Department, Carmel Police Department, and the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Troutman be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 to each victim. Additionally, Troutman must remain registered as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Anson O’Neal, 22, of Muncie, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, on January 31, 2022, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Officers with the Muncie Police Department executed a search warrant at O’Neal’s home in Muncie, Indiana.

Officers found bags of methamphetamine in multiple locations throughout the house, including under the floor mat outside the front door, in a bedroom safe, and in a closet. The three bags of methamphetamine found on a closet shelf were stored directly on top of two loaded guns. A total of approximately 890 grams of methamphetamine was seized from the home. Investigators also seized approximately 63 grams of fentanyl, over $19,000 in cash, and a total of six firearms—including an AR-15 style rifle. O’Neal admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute the drugs to others, and that he possessed the guns in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

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

“Dealers of deadly drugs, armed with deadly weapons, are a poison in our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Those who choose to endanger our families to further their own greed will be identified and prosecuted. With our federal, state, and local partners, we are committed to dismantling these operations and ensuring that dangerous criminals are taken off our streets and held accountable for their actions.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Muncie Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that O’Neal be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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

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TERRE HAUTE- David Piparo, 62, of New York City, has been sentenced to an additional 27 months in federal prison after being found in possession of a weapon in prison.

According to court documents, in 2012, Piparo was convicted of 3 commercial robberies and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 22 years by a federal judge in the Southern District of New York. He has been serving his prison sentence at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex inmate since 2021.

On November 27, 2021, a Bureau of Prisons Officer was conducting random searches of inmates as part of the prison’s effort to control contraband at the facility. Inmate Piparo w-as exiting the recreation yard when he was asked to submit to a pat-down search. During the search, the Officer ran his hand over Piparo’s right ankle and felt something hard in his sock. The Officer recovered a piece of green plastic, approximately 6 ½ inches long, with a sharpened point. Improvised knives, commonly referred to as “shanks” are illegal to possess in prison and pose a significant risk to the safety of fellow inmates and correctional staff.

The Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Warden and Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Randy Coffey, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 1, 2022, Coffey sold a pair of tires with rims at Cash America Pawn, a federally licensed firearms dealer. After completing the sale, Coffey attempted to purchase a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol. On the required federal firearm transaction form, Coffey stated under penalty of perjury that he was not a convicted felon. Coffey failed the required background check, and the gun sale was not completed.

Several hours later, Coffey returned to the same Cash America Pawn with another person. Coffey stayed inside his vehicle as the other person looked over the store’s guns and purchased a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The person then illegally purchased the gun for Coffey in exchange for $120 from Coffey, a transaction known as a “straw-purchase” of a firearm.

A straw purchase scheme is when a person not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm falsely states to a federally licensed gun dealer that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else, frequently someone who is prohibited from purchasing or possessing the firearm themselves.

On March 8, 2022, IMPD detectives stopped Coffey for a traffic violation. Coffey did not have a valid license or a valid registration in his possession and he was placed under arrest. During a search of the vehicle, officers located the same Taurus 9mm handgun straw-purchased for him from Cash America Pawn the week before. The handgun had a loaded magazine with a round in the chamber.

Coffey is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his two previous felony convictions of armed robbery resulting in bodily injury in 2006 and 2013.

“Illegally armed, violent criminals drive the unacceptable gun violence suffered by Indianapolis and far too many other communities,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Straw-purchases and other gun trafficking schemes are a major source of the guns obtained and used by these dangerous offenders. Our federal prosecutors will continue to partner with IMPD and the ATF to disarm the most dangerous offenders and hold them accountable in federal court. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that accountability awaits these armed criminals, because no one should have to live in fear in our neighborhoods.”

“Violent felons possessing firearms poses a severe risk to public safety. Coffey illegally attempted to purchase a firearm and then circumvented the law by enticing someone else to obtain one for him,” said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCormick “ATF will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend violent convicted felons who put our communities at risk when they possess firearms.”   

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

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case. 

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Dallas Jones, 32, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to an additional 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to escape.

According to court documents, on November 17, 2015, Jones was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm. 

On July 25, 2018, Jones was transferred to the Volunteers of America (“VOA”) in Indianapolis Indiana, to complete his sentence. The Bureau of Prisons contracts with residential reentry centers, also known as halfway houses, to aid inmates who are nearing release as they transition back into the community. Inmates serving a portion of their sentence at a residential reentry center are only authorized to leave through sign-out procedures for approved activities.

Jones was to remain in, and abide by the rules of, the facility until his projected release date of May 26, 2019. On April 12, 2019, Jones was transported to Eskenazi Hospital for medical treatment. Jones removed his GPS monitor and left the hospital in the early hours of April 13, 2019.

On June 12, 2019, after absconding from the VOA, Jones was dealing drugs and participating in an illegal dice game on Dearborn Street. He got into a physical altercation that quickly escalated to a gun battle. During the shooting, Jones killed one person, and injured two others who were caught in the crossfire. Jones was arrested by Deputy United States Marshals the next day.

In February 2023, Jones was convicted in Marion County Superior Court of Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon. Jones was sentenced to serve 15 years in the custody of the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Jones will serve his 27-month federal prison sentence in addition to the 15-year sentence imposed by the state court.

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

U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging David Joseph Mull, 51, of North Vernon, Indiana, on one count of unlicensed firearm dealing.

As alleged in the indictment, Mull is responsible for selling more than 500 firearms in exchange for over $350,000 to Individual A, and 90 firearms in exchange for $56,850 to Individual B. The firearms were allegedly purchased by Mull from gun shows and sold to other individuals. Mull was allegedly aware that the firearms he sold would be transported to Mexico.

On May 25, 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued Mull with a cease-and-desist letter advising him that it was unlawful to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license.

During a firearms sale on March 9, 2023, Individual B asked Mull why he did not have a brick-and-mortar business, to which Mull replied, “Like a store? I don't want nobody to know. I’m probably like you, I don't want nobody to know about it. Hopefully we can continue to do a bunch of business; I’ll keep on getting stuff.”

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Firearms trafficking investigations are a priority of the Department of Justice, because we know that illegal gun sales fuel violence in our communities and around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “We will continue to work with the ATF, IRS, DEA, and all our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute illegal gun trafficking.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. If convicted, Mull faces up to five years in federal prison. The government also seeks to forfeit over 1,000 firearms seized from Mull as property involved in the charged offense. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kelsey L. Massa and Michelle P. Brady, who are prosecuting this case.

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

An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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INDIANAPOLIS- Cameron Johnson, 32, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on Friday, September 15, 2019, at approximately 2:01 a.m., a uniform Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer was on patrol when she noticed a dark blue Dodge Charger illegally parked on the side of the road near North Ralston Avenue. The officer approached the vehicle and made contact with Cameron Johnson, who was in the driver’s seat. Johnson initially told the officer that he did not have his driver’s license with him and provided a false name of “Christian Turman.” A BMV check of “Turman’s” license returned as a habitual traffic violator, and Johnson was placed under arrest.

During his arrest, officers located a driver’s license in Johnson’s pocket with the name of “Cameron Kimbrough” listed. Johnson eventually admitted that he was not “Christian Turman,” and was in fact Cameron Johnson. Johnson told officers that he changed his last name to Kimbrough because of numerous felony arrests under the name Cameron Johnson. Officers also confirmed that Johnson had an outstanding warrant in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9mm handgun on the floorboard of the driver’s seat. The handgun had one live round in the chamber and seventeen rounds in the magazine.

Johnson is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his three previous felony convictions for robbery and one felony conviction of dealing in a narcotic drug.

“Any time a firearm can be taken out of the hands of someone with a history of violent felonies is a win for our community,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates our office’s commitment to partnering with ATF and IMPD as we seek to reduce gun violence in Indianapolis and all of the communities we serve.”

“Repeat felony offenders have no business possessing firearms,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “Working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that violent repeat offenders don’t have guns is at the core of our mission. We will keep working together to make our communities safer for all of us.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Johnson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

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

EVANSVILLE- Phillip Abell, 46, of Newburgh, Indiana, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on January 23, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Abell’s home in Newburgh, Indiana. Law enforcement officers located and seized data storage discs and a custom-built desktop computer. Abell admitted that he had used a file sharing program for the last three years to search for child sexual abuse material. Abell stated he did not always look at child sexual abuse material but would sometimes get a “hankering” for it and needed to satisfy that desire. Abell also admitted to first viewing child sexual abuse material while in college. Abell stated he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to search for the types of files he was interested in. Abell engaged in a pattern of intentionally finding, downloading, viewing, and then deleting child sexual abuse material. The materials Abell downloaded included visual depictions of the sexual abuse of prepubescent children under twelve years old.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Billy Bolin, Chief of Evansville Police Department made the announcement.

“Over the course of many years, the defendant trawled through the darkest corners of the internet to find images of the sexual abuse of young children,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Trafficking in these images furthers the trauma inflicted on innocent children and fuels the desires of criminals with sexual interests in children. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that our office is committed to working with the FBI and Evansville Police to protect our children from those who desire to do them harm.”

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

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

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

If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood

INDIANAPOLIS- Kenneth Woods, age 35, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing and receiving images and videos of child sexual abuse over the internet, while having been previously convicted in Florida of similar conduct.

According to court documents, in 2021, Facebook and Snapchat accounts later found to be associated with Woods came to the attention of IMPD for uploading videos depicting child sexual abuse. A search of Woods’s residence in Indianapolis yielded a cell phone that contained still more videos of child sexual abuse. Still further investigation eventually uncovered an email account used by Woods to send videos of child sexual abuse to a specific individual, with whom Woods also exchanged messages about sex acts he desired to perform with that individual’s minor daughter. The child sex abuse materials distributed and possessed by Woods included depictions of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers or other depictions of violence.

Woods was previously convicted in 2021 in Citrus County, Florida, of two felony charges related to obscene communications with a minor and possessing a photograph depicting child sexual abuse.

Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Randal Taylor, Chief of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the U. S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Criminals with a sexual interest in children continue to use social media platforms and other internet technologies to seek out and disseminate vile images of horrific abuses,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Repeat offenders like this defendant demonstrate their unwillingness or inability to stop committing these crimes, exacerbating the trauma already inflicted on child victims. The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of federal law enforcement and IMPD to make our children safer by ensuring that these dangerous repeat offenders are in prison where they belong.”

IMPD, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Chief Judge Pratt also ordered that Marshall be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Korobov, who prosecuted this case.

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

INDIANAPOLIS- Dejohntae Zeche Keith Williams, 30, of California, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on May 7, 2021, an Indiana State Police Trooper stopped Williams after he was clocked driving a semi-truck over the speed limit on I-65.

The troopers conducted a lawful search of the truck and found two large, black duffel bags on the top bunk of the sleeper berth. Inside the bags were individually wrapped plastic packages containing a total of 162 approximately one-pound packages of methamphetamine. In total, there was approximately 72 kilograms of methamphetamine between the two bags.

During an interview with Homeland Security Investigations Agents, Williams admitted that he was delivering drugs to Louisville, Kentucky, in exchange for $30,000.

“The Crossroads of America remains an attractive target for the drug traffickers who seek illegal profits with utter disregard for the individuals and families harmed by abuse of dangerous substances,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the ISP Troopers who successfully intercepted this large quantity of methamphetamine involved and ISP’s partnership with Homeland Security Investigations to ensure that this criminal was held accountable. The serious federal prison sentence imposed today should serve as a warning to drug traffickers everywhere: Indiana’s highways are not a safe space to push your poisons into our communities.” 

“HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and remove from our streets those involved in the illicit drug trade,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald, who oversees the HSI Chicago area of operations. “We are committed to combating the dangerous threat methamphetamine poses to our citizens and the safety of our communities.”

“The Indiana State Police will continue to work with its federal, county and local law enforcement partners in an effort to not only keep these dangerous and potentially deadly drugs out of our communities, but to also hold those responsible for transporting and trafficking them into those communities,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent, Doug Carter.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by Indiana State Police. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Williams be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William L. McCoskey and Corbin Houston, who prosecuted this case.

INDIANAPOLIS- Tremond Blakey, 26, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on July 1, 2022, at approximately 11:39 am, Tremond Blakey entered the Walgreens at 4555 North Shadeland Avenue, approached the pharmacy counter, and presented the technician with a note that read: “I am armed and Dangerous. Give me all the Percocet, 10mg all oxy 30mg. No alarms.”

Blakey brandished a semiautomatic pistol following the presentation of the note and pointed it toward the ground. The technician passed the note to the pharmacist, who retrieved four bottles of Oxycodone and gave them to Blakey. Immediately, the pharmacist called 911 and informed a Lawrence Police Department (LPD) dispatcher of the situation.

An LPD patrol officer was in the vicinity of the Walgreens and immediately responded to the report of the robbery. As Blakey ran from the pharmacy counter towards the exit, he encountered the responding officer. Blakey initially did not comply but was eventually taken into custody.

During a search of Blakey’s person, the officer located a loaded,.45 caliber semiautomatic pistol in the front pocket of his hoodie and the bag containing the four stolen bottles of prescription pills.

“Armed criminals who terrorize our people must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I am thankful for the quick reaction of the responding Lawrence Police Department officer in preventing the defendant from getting away with his crime and further endangering the public. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates our commitment to working closely with our partners at the FBI, LPD and all of federal, state, and local law enforcement as we seek to reduce gun violence.”

“This defendant’s reckless and violent actions put law-abiding citizens in danger,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI is grateful for the partnership with the Lawrence Police Department in this case, and we will continue to collaborate with all state and local law enforcements agencies to take armed criminals off the streets of our communities.”

“Due in large part to the excellent work of the first responding LPD officer, and our ongoing collaborative efforts through Project Safe Neighborhoods between LPD, FBI, and the US Attorney’s Office, another individual who was caught in the act of committing a violent crime, has been held accountable through a criminal conviction in US District Court,” said LPD Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff. “Our streets are safer due to these ongoing efforts,” Chief Woodruff concluded.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawrence Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Blakey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

INDIANAPOLIS- Alfred Cunningham, 28, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, from January 16, 2021, to February 4, 2021, Cunningham robbed three Indianapolis businesses while armed with a firearm.

On January 16, 2021, at about 8:50 p.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were dispatched to a Dollar General store on Rockville Road in Indianapolis for an armed robbery. During the robbery, Cunningham entered the store, pointed a handgun at employees and forced them to remove money from the safe and the registers. Cunningham also stole an employee’s cellphone and wallet, which contained identification and credit cards.

On January 20, 2021, at about 8:25 PM, IMPD officers were dispatched to the Phillips 66 located on W. Washington Street for an armed robbery. When officers arrived, an employee described the robbery, stating that Cunningham pointed a semiautomatic pistol at him and yelled “give up the money.” The employee opened the register, removed the cash, and handed it to Cunningham. Cunningham ordered him to open the safe. The employee told Cunningham that there was no safe, but Cunningham forced him into the office and again ordered him to open it. The employee again stated there was no safe and opened a file cabinet. Cunningham ran from the store with cash from the register.

On February 4, 2021, at 8:27pm, IMPD officers were dispatched to a Dollar General on Washington Street for another robbery. Cunningham approached an employee and asked her about rope, razors, and a few other items, then purchased the items and continue to browse the store. Cunningham approached the counter again with a black handgun and demanded the employees open the safe. He told the employees “I will shoot you, but I don’t want to.” Cunningham grabbed an employee by the shoulder, pushed her down, and ordered her to open the safe and the register. He again fled the scene.

That same evening, around 8:45pm, an IMPD officer found Cunningham walking near the 5600 block of Ray Street. After a brief physical struggle, Cunningham was arrested. Officers located the black handgun used in the last robbery in Cunningham’s right pant leg near the ankle, loaded with six rounds, and $235 in cash.

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

“The outcomes of these robberies could have been very different, even deadly, given the use of a loaded gun. No one should fear for their lives while they are simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend IMPD and the FBI for putting an end to these robberies and ensuring that those who terrorize our communities with gun violence are held accountable.”  

FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Cunningham be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $4,435 in restitution.

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

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

INDIANAPOLIS- Antwann Tigner, 34, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers observed Tigner conduct drug transactions on multiple occasions in April 2021 at his Indianapolis residence. On April 29, 2021, IMPD officers executed a search warrant at Tigner’s residence. As officers approached the porch where Tigner was sitting, he ran inside the home and through the back door. While inside the home, officers located a camouflage bag that contained a loaded .38 Special revolver and assorted ammunition. Within feet of the revolver, officers located a digital scale, plastic baggies, and a Pyrex measuring cup with drug residue.

Investigators located Tigner in the downstairs bathroom with his hands shoved in the toilet, attempting to flush baggies of drugs. Once Tigner was placed in custody, the officers found methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in several bags in the toilet. The bags contained a total of over 49 grams of fentanyl, 229.73 grams of methamphetamine, and 37 grams of cocaine. Investigators also located a total of $50,186 in drug proceeds and a stolen, loaded firearm in the upstairs bathroom.

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

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

“Drug dealers do not care about the well-being of people who use controlled substances. They will lace their drugs with poisonous levels of dangerous substances to make more money at the expense of human life,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “It is our responsibility as federal law enforcement officials to attack the drug overdose epidemic head-on by identifying and prosecuting those who are funneling this poison into our communities. Our office will continue to work alongside ATF and IMPD to do just that.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Tigner be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

INDIANAPOLIS- The following 19 individuals have been charged in a series of 4 federal indictments alleging the illegal possession of firearms and machineguns and trafficking hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine in Central Indiana:

Defendant

Age, Location

Charges

Jordan Alexander (Charged by Complaint)

33, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Jaraughn Bertram a.k.a. Bandman, Ron-Ron, Javon’s World (Fugitive)

20, Current location unknown

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl
• Continuing Criminal Enterprise
• Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Jayden Bertram

22, Carmel, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Joaquin Carranza a.k.a. Chef (Fugitive)

18, current location unknown

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Isaiah Chest

21, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Elijah Conn a.k.a. Whiteboy Eli

Greenwood, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl

Tameico Johnson a.k.a. Meekeey

22, Fishers, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Brittina Jones a.k.a Tina

43, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl

Camonte Miller

21, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Courtlin Moncrief a.k.a. Tenny, Ten Pack

29, Avon, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

George Muncy

56, Greenwood, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl
• Unlawful use of a cell phone

Rhonda Muncy

55, Greenwood, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl

Deondre Perry a.k.a. Dre

Greenwood, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Analogue
• Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Dewell Simpson a.k.a. PB

18, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Jamie Sullivan a.k.a Jay

22, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Jordan Sumner (Fugitive)

22, current location unknown

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Monica Sumner

20, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Fentanyl

Kenan Wharton

18, Indianapolis. Indiana

• Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession of a Machine Gun

Brooke Woods

23, Greenwood, Indiana

• Conspiracy to Distribute fentanyl

As part of this multiagency operation, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from 16 different law enforcement agencies, served arrest warrants and search warrants at 18 locations in Central Indiana and in Arizona on the morning of June 22nd. 16 individuals were arrested and are in federal custody. Three remain as fugitives.

According to court documents and information presented in open court, Jaraughn Bertram and Deondre Perry allegedly led drug trafficking organizations in Central Indiana that trafficked significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Arizona to the Indianapolis, Anderson, and Muncie areas. The organizations alleged possessed and used firearms, including weapons than had been converted into fully automatic firearms (a/k/a machineguns), to further their drug trafficking activities. 

Machinegun conversion devices, sometimes called “Glock switches” or “auto-sears,” are devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. Machinegun conversion devices are themselves considered machineguns under federal law, even when not installed, and are illegal to possess or sell without a special license.

During this year-long investigation, law enforcement seized the following contraband and proceeds of the alleged criminal activity: 

• Over 32.8 kilograms (72.3 pounds) of fentanyl, or over 320,000 fentanyl pills
• Over 53.5 kilograms (117.9 pounds) of methamphetamine
• Over 205.6 kilograms (453.2 pounds) of marijuana
• 113 firearms
• 60 machinegun conversion devices
• Over $521,000 in cash

If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in federal prison.

The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible:   

 

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation
• United States Marshals Service
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service
• Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
• Indiana State Police
• Fishers Police Department
• Carmel Police Department
• Boone County Sheriff’s Department
• Zionsville Police Department
• Anderson Police Department
• Lawrence Police Department 
• Muncie Police Department
• Fort Wayne Police Department
• Avon Police Department

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Clifford D. Johnson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, and Gary M. Restaino, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, for the support of their Offices in this investigation.

U.S. Attorney Myers also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle P. Brady and Kelsey L. Massa, who are prosecuting this case.

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

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

An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

INDIANAPOLIS- Todd Anderson, age 60, and Carolyn Anderson, age 58, of Flagstaff, Arizona, have each been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of opium poppy and morphine.

According to court documents, from June 2019, through August 2020, the Andersons packaged and shipped hundreds of pounds of poppy straw (dried opium poppy) to Indiana and California for re-distribution by others. The pair used their four businesses, registered in Arizona, to illegally import the poppy from the United Kingdom. Poppy Straw is a Schedule II Controlled Substance that can result in death if improperly ingested. It is highly addictive and can be abused for its opioid effects. An active ingredient in poppy straw is morphine, a powerful opioid that is also a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Anderson’s operated a website that offered “dried poppy pods” for sale in various quantities. Neither Todd or Carolyn, nor their businesses, were registered importers with the DEA to sell any controlled substances, as required by law. There are over a hundred types of poppy plants, but the variety unlawfully imported and sold by Todd and Carolyn Anderson is the only variety designated as a controlled substance. The dried poppy pods and other parts of the plant are often ground up and steeped in hot water to make “poppy tea” containing high amounts of morphine.

On multiple occasions, Carolyn Anderson arranged, via text message, for individuals in Indianapolis and Noblesville to purchase anywhere from 10 to 50 pounds of poppy straw for $125 per pound. The pair instructed buyers to describe their business to authorities as “an Online dried floral business” and labeled packages as containing “dried decorations.”

On August 13, 2020, Todd and Carolyn were arrested at their property in Arizona, where local law enforcement officers recovered 499 kilograms of poppy straw—approximately one half a metric ton. In addition to the poppy straw at their property, agents seized approximately 40 additional kilograms of poppy straw that the Andersons shipped to customers in Indiana and elsewhere.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division made the announcement.

“Illegal opioid abuse and substance use disorders have driven epidemic levels of overdoses and other traumas suffered by our families, friends, and neighbors,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The federal prison sentences imposed against these defendants demonstrate that interstate and international drug trafficking schemes carry serious criminal consequences. Our federal prosecutors, along with our outstanding partners in the DEA and USPIS, are committed to making the public safer through investigation and prosecution of those who push dangerous drugs into our communities in search of illicit profits.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that the two defendants be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following their release from federal prison and ordered each defendant to pay a $15,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and William L. McCoskey, who prosecuted this case.

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

###

INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Steven Lamar Brown, 42, of Indianapolis, Indiana, guilty of seven felony charges: five counts of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between September 2020, and February of 2021, Brown was observed and recorded on video and audio selling more than fifty grams of methamphetamine on three separate occasions. On the recordings Brown can be clearly seen and heard weighing drugs and counting the money he received in exchange.

On February 23, 2021, IMPD officers attempted to stop Brown in his car to arrest him, but Brown refused to comply. Officers eventually stopped Brown, searched his vehicle, and found a loaded .380 caliber pistol in the glove box.

Later that day, law enforcement, including Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration and IMPD officers, conducted a court-authorized search of Brown’s residence. Inside, throughout the house, they found a trove of illegal drugs, tools of the drug trade, Brown’s personal documents, and eight firearms, including three assault rifles, four handguns, and a shotgun:

Master Bedroom & Closet

• 52.1 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin.
• 26.3 grams of fentanyl
• 100.96 grams of heroin
• 165.5 grams of methamphetamine
• 117 Xanax pills
• 10.7 grams of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”)
• 3 loaded semi-automatic assault-style rifles
• A loaded shotgun
• A loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun
• Brown’s birth certificate and social security card

On and Under the Bed

• 1.2 kilograms of synthetic marijuana in gallon-size bags
• 28.0 grams of synthetic marijuana
• A loaded .38 Special caliber revolver
• 2 loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistols

Bedroom #2

• A metal kilo press
• Loaded magazines
• A box of ammunition behind a standalone mirror

Kitchen

• A black digital scale with drug residue
• 407.1 grams of synthetic marijuana

Brown has multiple prior convictions for felony offenses, including robbery, for which he was on parole when he committed these federal crimes. As a result of those convictions, Brown is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and IMPD investigated this case. U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney II, presided over the trial and will sentence Brown at a later date. Brown faces up to life in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release following his release from prison.

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

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

###

EVANSVILLE- Stacy Ryan Goldman, 32, of Evansville, Indiana, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child.

According to court documents, between August of 2016 and March of 2017, Stacy Goldman communicated with a 14-year-old girl via Facebook video chat sessions. The child lived in Wisconsin and Goldman lived in Evansville, Indiana. During the video chat sessions, Goldman discussed sexual activity with the girl and sent her videos of himself in sex acts. Goldman also asked the child to send him sexually explicit material.

In an interview with FBI agents, Goldman admitted that he knew the girl was a minor. Goldman also admitted that on at least one occasion he threatened to publicly post intimate pictures of the child online.

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

“Through social media networks and mobile devices, predators like this defendant can gain access to our children’s bedrooms from hundreds of miles away,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers “Those who might seek to engage in sexual contact with children online should take notice of the federal prison sentence imposed today. Child sexual exploitation is a heinous crime and will be met with serious punishment. Our office, alongside the FBI and our law enforcement partners, are committed to keeping our children safe and holding child sex offenders accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Goldman be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison. Goldman must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Clifford Lewis, 20, Tyrese Turner, 22, and Calvin Johnson, 21, all of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Lewis was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison. In November 2022, Tyrese Turner, 22, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison. In June of 2022, Calvin Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. 

According to court documents, on November 12, 2020, at approximately 7:03 pm, Johnson and Lewis entered a T-Mobile store on Pendleton Pike in Lawrence, Indiana. Both men approached an employee at the display counter and inquired about switching a service plan. As the employee began to help them, he noticed that Lewis had a pistol secured in a holster in his waistband.

Johnson and Lewis then approached a second employee as Turner entered the business carrying a black backpack over his shoulders. Johnson brandished a semiautomatic pistol at the second employee and ordered him into the back room.

In the back room, the three men took turns removing electronic devices from the safe and placing them into Turner’s backpack. Johnson zip-tied the victims’ hands behind their backs as well as their ankles.

Once the defendants were satisfied with the number of cell phones in the backpack, Lewis began wrapping it in foil. As the robbery was still in progress, Lawrence Police Department officers arrived. All three men attempted to flee. Johnson and Turner were caught and arrested in the store. Lewis fled the scene and was arrested on a later date.  

Officers conducted a search of Johnson’s person and found a Taurus 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol in his right front jean pocket. Officers located the loaded Glock 19 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol that was in Lewis’s waistband in a ravine behind the store.

The total amount of property taken during the robbery included over 50 devices and amounted to a value of $43,804.30.

“Everyone in the Southern District of Indiana deserves to feel safe where they live and work. These three violent criminals conspired not only to rob a store of thousands of dollars in merchandise, but also to traumatize innocent people just doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Gun-toting criminals are a menace to our communities and will be met with consequences, as demonstrated by the serious sentences imposed today. I commend the FBI and Lawrence Police Department for their quick action to protect the public in this case.”

“These convictions are the results of exemplary collaboration between Federal, State, & Local law enforcement agencies focusing their resources on those who engage in violent crime in our communities,” said Lawrence Police Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff. “The community is safer due to these collaborative efforts. We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners at the FBI & US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their ongoing investment in these collaborations.” 

Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawrence Police Department investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered Lewis to serve 5 years of supervised release and Turner and Johnson to serve 3 years following their release from federal prison.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Harold Sanders, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. 

According to court documents, on June 13, 2022, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers received a 9-1-1 phone call from Sanders’ girlfriend who was screaming for help as Sanders was assaulting her. During the phone call, Sanders was heard asking where his other pistol was and making verbal threats.

Officers responded to the residence and found the girlfriend with visible injuries. She told officers that Sanders had struck her in the head seven times with a firearm. A search of the residence yielded one loaded .380 caliber handgun under a bedroom mattress, and another one loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine inside the microwave. The girlfriend’s blood was found on the 9mm firearm.

Sanders is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm again because of his prior felony convictions for Assault by Means Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury, Infliction of Corporal Injury on a Spouse, and First Degree Criminal Domestic Violence.

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

“Again and again, we see armed domestic abusers inflict injury and death on those closest to them,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “We must interrupt the cycle of violence through aggressive federal prosecution of the worst offenders, like the defendant here. Through our L.E.A.T.H. initiative, we will continue working alongside IMPD and ATF to protect victims by sending these dangerous offenders to federal prison, where they belong.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Sanders be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Abhi Kambli, who prosecuted this case.

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Bruce Ford, 50, of Centerpoint, Indiana has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.

According to court documents, Ford was licensed as an insurance broker in Indiana beginning in 2008. From January 1, 2013, through December of 2018, Ford stole approximately $1.2 million from at least ten victims through a fraudulent investment and Ponzi scheme.

On April 5, 2012, Ford created Ford Financial and Insurance Services. Through his company, Ford promoted investment services to current and former insurance clients and others despite the fact that he had not register himself or his company with the Indiana Securities Division, as required by law. 

As part of his scheme and in order to induce his current and former insurance clients to invest with his company, Ford falsely held himself out to be a financial advisor and promised clients through false and misleading claims and omissions that he could provide higher returns on their investments than they would otherwise yield from their traditional and long-term investment products such as Individual Retirement Accounts and 401ks. 

Ford induced his clients to cash out their retirement and other investment accounts and transfer the funds to Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts (SDIRA).  Rather than invest the funds in real estate and business ventures as promised, Ford transferred the victims’ investment money out of their SDIRAs to his own personal bank accounts, and used the stolen money for his own purposes, including to pay his personal credit cards, and to purchase goods, services, a mobile-home, land, and a recreational vehicle.  Some of Fords’ victims were already retired or were approaching retirement and were left to suffer substantial financial hardship. 

Ford concealed his scheme for five years through Ponzi-scheme type payments—using funds wrongfully taken from some investors to pay purported returns to others.

In total, Ford fraudulently obtained $1,264,208.13 from his victims.

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

“This defendant took advantage of the trust of Hoosier workers and retirees to steal the hard-earned savings intended to provide for the retirements they’d planned,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Crooks operating Ponzi schemes under the guise of providing financial services must be identified and held accountable for their crimes. The sentence imposed today is the result of our commitment—together with the FBI, Indiana’s Securities Division and all of our law enforcement partners—to protect investors from fraud.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana Secretary of State Securities Division investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Ford be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Ford was also ordered to pay $1,089,708.13 in restitution.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Nicholas Karagianis, 38, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on October 7, 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration Agents witnessed Karagianis sell 62.2 grams of methamphetamine and 2.9 grams of fentanyl to an individual for $900. On November 1, 2021, Karagianis sold 108.7 grams of methamphetamine and 3 grams of fentanyl to the same individual in a parking lot near East Thompson Road in Indianapolis.

On December 8, 2021, DEA agents executed a search warrant at Karagianis’s home. During the search, agents located a .40 caliber handgun in the nightstand. Agents also found 38.1 grams of fentanyl on Karagianis’s person.

According to the DEA, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. Six out of ten counterfeit pills examined by the DEA in the past year contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.

Karagianis is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe.

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

“Fentanyl is devastating our communities at an unprecedented rate. Illegally armed fentanyl dealers pose an even greater danger to the public,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “We continue to work diligently with the DEA to aggressively address this epidemic and remove armed fentanyl dealers from our neighborhoods.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Karagianis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- Tony Cushingberry, 24, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to murder and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on April 27, 2020, at approximately 3:57 p.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were called to North Denny Street in Indianapolis in reference to a person shot. Officers arrived at the scene and located a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, later identified as Angela Summers, shot and laying on the front porch of the residence. Ms. Summers was working as a letter carrier and was delivering mail on her route at the time she was shot.

Cushingberry was sitting on his porch when he watched Summers walk past his house and proceed to the next residence. Cushingberry aggressively approached Summers on the neighbor’s porch and demanded his mail several times. Cushingberry continued to pursue Summers while displaying a handgun, eventually pulling it from the right side of his waistband and shooting Summers in the chest from several feet away.

Cushingberry immediately fled the scene and stashed the gun in the detached garage of a nearby residence. On April 27, 2020, United States Postal Inspectors and IMPD Officers searched Cushingberry’ s home and located a safe that contained multiple boxes of ammunition, including the same caliber and brand of fired cartridge casing matching the Glock he used.

Summers was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead at 5:31pm that evening.

“Angela Summers was a beloved family member and public servant, and she should be alive today. She was taken from those who cared for her by the defendant’s evil decision to gun her down while she was simply doing her job,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our communities should not have to live in fear of every conflict leading to gun violence. No term of imprisonment will bring Angela back, but the sentence imposed today demonstrates that those who kill will face judgment and accountability. I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to seek justice in this case.”

“The safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers is core to the mission of the Postal Inspection Service. This tragic death is a tremendous example of how local and federal partners joined together to investigate and bring to justice Tony Cushingberry, who senselessly took the life of our colleague. This sentence should serve as a warning to others who commit violent acts against Postal Service employees that Postal Inspectors will aggressively investigate and seek to have those individuals sentenced to the maximum extent possible” said Detroit Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. 

“Angela Summers did not deserve to be killed for doing her job,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “My condolences go out to her family, friends, and colleagues, and I hope that this sentence at least provides a measure of closure for them.”

United States Postal Inspection Service, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Cushingberry be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.

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

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INDIANAPOLIS- A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Rochelle Perry, 49, of Indianapolis, Indiana, with five counts of Social Security number fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of Social Security disability benefits fraud. The indictment was unsealed today, following Perry’s arrest and initial appearance.

As alleged in the indictment, between February 26, 2020, and March 23, 2022, Perry submitted five fraudulent applications for employment to Indianapolis area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Perry used a stolen Social Security number on all five of the applications. She was receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits under her true Social Security number, and she knew that those benefits would be reduced or eliminated if the Social Security Administration found out she had a job. Additionally, Perry knew that she might not be able to pass an employment background check if she applied to a health care facility using her true Social Security number.

In some of the job applications, Perry also used a stolen Licensed Practical Nurse (“LPN”) license number to trick the employers into believing she was an LPN. Perry has never received any type of nursing license in the state of Indiana.

Of the five job applications, four were for LPN positions. Perry applied for these positions despite not having a nursing license. She worked as an LPN at one facility from January 21, 2021, to April 27, 2021, and at a second facility from May 10, 2021, to November 23, 2021. At a third facility, she worked as a Memory Care Program Coordinator from February 26, 2020, to April 16, 2020.

Between December 3, 2019, and December 2, 2022, Perry received approximately $54,991.30 in Social Security disability benefits under her true Social Security number. On two separate occasions, in August 2021 and October 2022, Perry submitted Work Activity Reports to the Social Security Administration. In those reports, Perry declared, under penalty of perjury, that she had not earned any income since May 2019. Perry did not disclose that she had been earning wages at health care facilities.

The FBI, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Indiana Attorney General’s Office – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and IMPD investigated this case. If convicted on all counts, Rochelle faces up to 5 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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