Lamone Lauderdale, a 37-year-old Indianapolis man, has been sentenced to over twenty years in federal prison. Lauderdale's charges include possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, meth, and cocaine, as well as carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to a U.S. Department of Justice report, he will serve 248 months followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty.
On January 19, 2022, what began as a speeding stop by the Zionsville Police Department spiraled into a high-speed chase after Lauderdale, who was driving down US-421, fled the officers. In a statement obtained by the Department of Justice, the pursuit concluded when Lauderdale, carrying a black bag, struck two other vehicles and popped a tire on his vehicle before fleeing on foot. His brief escape was a futile effort, ending with his capture despite having ditched the black bag during the run.
The abandoned black bag, of course, would tell the larger story of this chase. Authorities found it with a hefty supply of illicit substances: 170 grams of methamphetamine, 60 grams of fentanyl, and 111 grams of cocaine, alongside drug trafficking tools such as a pill press and a digital scale. Additionally, a 9mm handgun with 11 rounds of live ammunition was among the contents. Further searching of Lauderdale's vehicle revealed another stash of drugs and firearms.
In the wake of the sentence, Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress did not mince words. "Traffickers of deadly drugs, armed with deadly weapons, are a poison in our communities," he said. Childress' statement to the press highlighted the grim determination to remove such influencers from the streets, citing the coalition of federal, state, and local agencies that play a part in the prosecution and apprehension of such individuals. Lauderdale, having been processed by this system, became a testament to their committed effort, as per a U.S. Department of Justice report.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, coupled with the work of the Zionsville Police Department, played vital roles in the investigation leading to Lauderdale's sentencing. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, and the sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
