A Newburgh duo's criminal enterprise has come to an abrupt end as they face a lengthy stint behind bars for their role in a methamphetamine distribution network. Michael Jimenez, 37, and his nephew, Jordan Jimenez, 30, were sentenced to ten and fifteen years respectively in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Jordan's charge sheet also included possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Their operation ran from May through July of 2022, where it was discovered they had been trafficking significant quantities of meth throughout Southern Indiana. Court documents reveal a family affair where Jordan sourced the drugs and fronted them to Michael, who then peddled the substance to his own contacts. During a traffic stop last year on July 15, Evansville Police Department officers found around five and a half pounds of meth in Jordan's car, as explained in a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

A further search of Jordan's abode turned up firearms including a Taurus 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and an Andro .223 rifle, alongside ammunition and a digital scale, painting a picture of a tightly-run operation. The duo was eventually linked to the distribution of more than nine kilograms of methamphetamine, which underlines the scale of their illegal business.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, minced no words about the impact of such dealings, stating on U.S. Attorney's Office, "The methamphetamine ravaging our families and neighborhoods doesn’t come from thin air." He further emphasized, "Drug traffickers like the two men convicted in this case bring this poison from thousands of miles away and pump it onto our communities." This sentiment reflects a commitment to dismantling these trafficking conspiracies and holding people accountable for the damage they cause.

The investigation, which led to these convictions, was a collaborative effort among the Drug Enforcement Administration, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and Evansville Police Department. It wasn't just a local crackdown; the prosecution was also part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.