Indianapolis Area Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Dismantled and Twelve Defendants Arrested

INDIANAPOLIS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Indiana, Southern), published as received.

INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging eleven individuals for their alleged roles in an Indianapolis-based drug trafficking organization with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and related charges. An additional defendant was charged by criminal complaint with offenses related to armed methamphetamine trafficking. The indictment was unsealed on December 14, 2022, following their arrests and initial appearances, and is being announced following hearings on the pretrial detention status of the defendants.

As alleged in court documents, beginning in 2021, the defendants primarily distributed methamphetamine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Erick Apolinar Romero operated out of Indianapolis and arranged for the delivery of the controlled substances to Indianapolis for their redistribution by other members of the conspiracy. Romero and Julian Islas-Lozada maintained residential properties for the purpose of stashing and distributing the illegal drugs, including an apartment in the Nora neighborhood on the north side of Indianapolis. Kevin Patino-Romero facilitated the movement of drug proceeds. The members of the conspiracy used cellular devices and code words to facilitate these drug trafficking activities. Members of the conspiracy allegedly travelled to Nebraska on multiple occasions in October and November 2022 to acquire drugs that were being smuggled by train car and bring them to Indianapolis for distribution.

On December 13, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with several local and federal law enforcement agencies, executed search warrants at seven residences in Indianapolis and arrested ten of the defendants charged in the indictment. Eduardo Abel Torres De Leon was apprehended in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Jose Ponciano-Felix was arrested on December 13, 2022, in Indianapolis, during the execution of one of the search warrants, and charged by criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

During the life of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately 408 pounds of methamphetamine; eight kilograms of fentanyl and 28 firearms. The seized firearms included several semi-automatic AR platform rifles. Approximately $32,800.00 in US Currency as well as 6 vehicles, 2 trailers, 3 all-terrain vehicles and a dirt bike were also seized.

As of December 20, 2022, eleven of the twelve defendants were ordered detained pending trial or detaining pending hearing. Richard Michael Moore was ordered released on conditions set by the Court.

The charges are as follows:

The defendants face the following possible penalties, if convicted:

Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, Chief Randal Taylor, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division, Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, and R. Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Chicago, made the announcement.

This case was a result of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Agency, IMPD’s Drug Task Force, HSI, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and IRS-CI. The Beech Grove Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, IMPD, Indiana State Police, and the FBI assisted in the execution of search and arrest warrants.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayson McGrath and Lindsay Karwoski, 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 complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.