INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging eleven people for his or her alleged roles in an Indianapolis-based drug trafficking group with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and associated fees. A further defendant was charged by prison criticism with offenses associated to armed methamphetamine trafficking. The indictment was unsealed on December 14, 2022, following their arrests and preliminary appearances, and is being introduced following hearings on the pretrial detention standing of the defendants.
As alleged in courtroom paperwork, starting in 2021, the defendants primarily distributed methamphetamine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Erick Apolinar Romero operated out of Indianapolis and organized for the supply of the managed substances to Indianapolis for his or her redistribution by different members of the conspiracy. Romero and Julian Islas-Lozada maintained residential properties for the aim of stashing and distributing the unlawful medication, together with an house within the Nora neighborhood on the north facet of Indianapolis. Kevin Patino-Romero facilitated the motion of drug proceeds. The members of the conspiracy used mobile gadgets and code phrases to facilitate these drug trafficking actions. Members of the conspiracy allegedly travelled to Nebraska on a number of events in October and November 2022 to accumulate medication that have been being smuggled by prepare automobile and convey them to Indianapolis for distribution.
On December 13, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), together with a number of native and federal regulation enforcement businesses, executed search warrants at seven residences in Indianapolis and arrested ten of the defendants charged within the indictment. Eduardo Abel Torres De Leon was apprehended in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Jose Ponciano-Felix was arrested on December 13, 2022, in Indianapolis, throughout the execution of one of many search warrants, and charged by prison criticism with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In the course of the lifetime of the investigation, regulation enforcement officers seized roughly 408 kilos of methamphetamine; eight kilograms of fentanyl and 28 firearms. The seized firearms included a number of semi-automatic AR platform rifles. Roughly $32,800.00 in US Foreign money in addition to 6 automobiles, 2 trailers, 3 all-terrain automobiles and a mud bike have been additionally seized.
As of December 20, 2022, eleven of the twelve defendants have been ordered detained pending trial or detaining pending listening to. Richard Michael Moore was ordered launched on circumstances set by the Court docket.
The fees are as follows:
Defendant |
Cost(s) |
Erick Romero aka “Erick Bustos,” aka “Christian Ramirez,” 33, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Methamphetamine Distribution; Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; Illegal Use of a Communication Facility |
Julian Islas-Lozada, aka “Chusy,” 35, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Methamphetamine Distribution; Illegal Use of a Communication Facility |
Alexander Franco-Lopez, aka “Sicario,” aka “Nino,” 19, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; |
Kevin Josue Patino-Romero, 20, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Methamphetamine Distribution; |
Junior Castillo, aka “Catracho,” 35, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; |
Eduardo Perez-Martinez, aka “Cholilo,” 28, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; |
Jesus Alberto Casillas-Martinez, aka “Cholo,” 26, Indianapolis |
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy; Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; |
Zachary Polk, 45, Vincennes, Indiana |
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; |
Matthew Wright, 45, Greencastle, Indiana |
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; |
Richard Michael Moore, aka “Mike Moore,” aka “Suegro,” 54, Indianapolis |
Illegal Use of a Communication Facility |
Eduardo Abel Torres De Leon, aka “Primo,” aka “Forty,” 29, West Grove, Pennsylvania |
Illegal Use of a Communication Facility |
Jose Ponciano-Felix, 41, Indianapolis *Charged by criticism |
Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime |
The defendants face the next doable penalties, if convicted:
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy |
10 years to life in jail |
Methamphetamine Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
10 years to life in jail |
Tried Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine |
10 years to life in jail |
Illegal Use of a Communication Facility |
As much as 4 years in jail |
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. |
5 years to life in jail, consecutive to some other sentence |
Precise sentences are decided by a federal district courtroom decide and are usually lower than the utmost penalties.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Particular Agent in Cost of the DEA’s Indianapolis Subject Workplace, Chief Randal Taylor, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Division, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Cost of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division, Justin Campbell, Particular Agent in Cost, IRS Legal Investigation, Chicago Subject Workplace, and R. Sean Fitzgerald, Particular Agent in Cost, Homeland Safety Investigations Chicago, made the announcement.
This case was a results of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Company, IMPD’s Drug Job Drive, HSI, the US Postal Inspection Service, and IRS-CI. The Beech Grove Police Division, Lawrence Police Division, IMPD, Indiana State Police, and the FBI assisted within the execution of search and arrest warrants.
U.S. Legal professional Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayson McGrath and Lindsay Karwoski, who’re prosecuting this case.
This case was a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Job Drive (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, cash launderers, gangs, and transnational prison organizations that threaten the US by utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency method that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and native regulation enforcement businesses towards prison networks.
An indictment or criticism is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in a courtroom of regulation.