Eighteen Charged in Cocaine Trafficking Case

January 20, 2010 - Eighteen individuals from the Indianapolis area have been charged with cocaine trafficking announced Timothy M. Morrison, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Michael S. Welch, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement officers throughout Indianapolis participated in the arrest of 13 individuals (two were in state custody and three remain at-large) and the execution of 11 search warrants related to the investigation on persons and residences in Indianapolis. Police seized $125,000 in cash, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, seven ounces of crack, two pounds of marijuana, and 12 firearms, including two MAK-90's, during the execution of the search and arrest warrants.

The indictment was the result of an investigation directed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. Other law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigation included the United States Marshal Service, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Speedway Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael S. Welch stated, “Today’s actions by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force represent our commitment to dismantling violent criminal enterprises operating in the Indianapolis area.”

A federal grand jury returned an indictment in the case, charging the following 16 individuals. Fourteen are listed below. Two remain fugitives:

Juan Carlos Adame-Hernandez, 37

Dominic Robinson, 44

Ramone Mockabee, 38

Damon Luter, 34

Seron Poole, 29

Kenneth Jones, 35

Diomoni Small, 34

Lonnie Belmar, 34

Elisha Drake, 29

Devon Hudgins, 20

George Meredith, 33

Shanon Gammons, 21

Harold Bigbee, 43

Vicki Receveur, 38

All 16 defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base. In addition, Gammons is charged with a separate count of possession cocaine base with intent to distribute. Adame-Hernandez is charged with distribution of cocaine hydrochloride and illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien.

The indictment alleges that Adame-Hernandez acquired large amounts of powder cocaine and delivered the powder cocaine to Robinson. Robinson, in turn, supplied Mockabee with the powder cocaine. Mockabee purportedly converted the powder cocaine into crack cocaine and distributed the crack cocaine to several individuals in Indianapolis, including Jones, Small, Belmar, Drake, Hudgins, Meredith, and Gammons. Small supplied Bigbee and Receveur with crack cocaine. The indictment further charges that Luter and Poole served as alternate sources of supply for Mockabee.

Two defendants were charged yesterday by complaint with possession of cocaine hydrochloride with intent to distribute. One remains a fugitive and the other is:

Gary L. Davis, 44

Federal and state authorities also executed search warrants in conjunction with the execution of the arrest warrants pertaining to the investigation. The locations searched pursuant to federal search warrants include:

900 block of Diamond Lane, Indianapolis (residence of Ramone Mockabee);

2800 block of North Indianapolis Avenue, Indianapolis (stash location used by Mockabee);

2600 block of North Indianapolis Avenue, Indianapolis (stash location used by Mockabee);

700 block of West 25th Street, Indianapolis (crack cocaine distribution location used by Diomoni Small and Mockabee);

700 block of West 25th Street, Indianapolis (crack cocaine distribution location used by Lonnie Belmar);

2400 block of Winfield Avenue, Indianapolis (residence of Diomoni Small);

3200 block of Lupine Drive, Indianapolis (residence of Lonnie Belmar);

4500 block of East 16th Street, Indianapolis (stash location used by Dominic Robinson);

800 block of North California Street, Indianapolis (residence of Damon Luter);

2700 block of Eagledale Drive, Indianapolis (residence of Kenneth Jones);

7900 block of Charlecot Drive, Indianapolis (residence of George Meredith)

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley A. Blackington, who is prosecuting the case for the government, most of the defendants, if convicted, face maximum possible prison sentences of life imprisonment.

Initial hearings will begin at 3:00 p.m. today for some of the defendants before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kennard Foster in Indianapolis.

The indictment is an allegation only, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by guilty plea.