A major drug trafficking operation in Muncie has been taken down, with a federal judge doling out a total of 70 years to five individuals involved in distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. US District Judge Richard L. Young handed down the sentences following guilty pleas from the defendants, including Jamarr Hill, who received a 17-year sentence for his role as the conspiracy's ringleader, and Lance McGee, who was sentenced to 15 years in connection with the conspiracy.
The group was responsible for distributing upwards of 10 kilograms of cocaine and 2,004 grams of fentanyl, impacting communities in central Indiana, their operation was effectively disbanded as a result of a collaborative effort spearheaded by federal and local law enforcement agencies, according to statements by Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress and Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis, not only did these investigations culminate in significant sentences for those running the drug ring, but two additional members were sentenced as well; Joseph Haskins received a 33-year sentence post-trial in December 2023, whereas Rodolfo Silva, charged in the Southern District of California was sentenced to 17 and a half years after pleading guilty.
“Drug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits,” Childress said in a statement obtained by the DOJ, highlighting the importance of state and local collaboration in such investigations, the case also brought to light illegal gun procurement, with defendant Nakevius Shannon serving three years’ probation for making false statements during the purchase of firearms intended for use in the trafficking operation.
The success of this investigation showcases the effectiveness of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to national security, efforts such as these underline the dedicated and prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach that combines federal, state, and local resources to combat and disrupt these illegal networks, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Barry Glickman having prosecuted the case and a sweeping victory has forcibly removed a substantial quantity of narcotics from the grip of illicit trade.
