Haughville drug trafficking organization dismantled

24 INDIVIDUALS FACE A VARIETY OF DRUG-RELATED CHARGES

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler today announced federal criminal charges against 24 individuals for a methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine distribution conspiracy and a federal firearms related charge.

On February 13, 2019, agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed arrest and search warrants in numerous locations centralized to the Haughville community in Indianapolis, Indiana. This operation led to the arrest of 22 individuals. During the investigation approximately 40 firearms, $155,000 in currency, 3 vehicles, and quantities of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana were seized.

Those charged include:

Jshaun Trice, 31, Indianapolis

Terrence Stum, 35, Indianapolis

Demetrick Holder, 20, Indianapolis

Darryl Allen, 35, Indianapolis

Eric Bard, 33, Indianapolis

Dustin Manuel, 30, Indianapolis*

Kelvin Washington, 34, Indianapolis

Gerald Hoskins, 23, Indianapolis

Devin Jones, 28, Indianapolis*

Adrian Myles, 40, Indianapolis

Christopher Hill, 30, Indianapolis

Robert Hadley, 48, Indianapolis

Danny Jenkins, 47, Indianapolis

Antonio McClure, 37, Indianapolis*

James Gibson, 33, Indianapolis

Carlo Payne, 39, Indianapolis

Thomas Acord, 30, Bloomington

Alton Brown Sr., 53, Indianapolis*

Steven Savage, 29, Indianapolis

Derrick O’Connor, 52, Indianapolis

Melissa Kidwell, 39, Indianapolis

Jacqueline Huffman, 40, Indianapolis

Jacob Jones, 30, Indianapolis

Sheridan Sisk, 37, Indianapolis

*Remains a fugitive

According to the indictment, Jshaun Trice and Terrence Stum directed the activities of a methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine trafficking organization in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jshaun Trice, Terrence Stum, Demetrick Holder and Gerald Hoskins coordinated their activities by receiving methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from diverse sources, sharing controlled substances with each other, and distributing the controlled substances to customers. Individuals in the conspiracy distributed methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine on the 700 block of Arnolda Avenue, in the Haughville neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana, among other locations.

“Utilizing the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force model, the Justice Department works collaboratively to target, investigate and prosecute organizations engaged in dangerous and harmful drug trafficking activity in our community,” said Josh Minkler. “This year, the United States Attorney’s Office created a standalone OCDETF Unit led by Senior Litigation Counsel Bradley A. Blackington to tackle and unearth individuals and organizations operating to the detriment of communities like Haughville. The challenges we face are not insurmountable when we pair criminal prosecution as a deterrent with wraparound services like those being offered by the City in this instance.”

 This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Department, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Indiana State Police.

“These arrests disrupted a violent drug trafficking ring and sent a clear message – if you are involved in illegal drug activity and violent crime in our city you will wake up one morning with law enforcement at your door. This case is at the heart of our collective mission to rid our communities of violent drug offenders and the destruction their activities create,” said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “The FBI, along with our federal, state and local partners, remains strongly committed to identifying and investigating those responsible for harming our communities.”

“Our community and the Haughville neighborhood deserve better than to be re-victimized by the crime and violence they have endured,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This means the illicit economy and criminal infrastructure that existed here must be replaced with hope and opportunity. And so our Office of Public Health and Safety will be convening community and City resources to help fill the needs of a neighborhood in recovery.”

“The individuals removed from our community account for thousands of reported violent crimes. These arrests will reduce not only the amount of illicit drugs in our city, but also the violence that accompanies the drug trade,” said IMPD Chief Bryan Roach. “To break the cycle of drug-related crime and violence, we must fill the economic vacuum left behind, which is why the wraparound services that will be available are critically important to the safety of our city. The dedicated women and men of the IMPD will continue to work alongside our local and federal partners to improve the safety of our neighborhoods and the quality of residents’ lives.”

“As violence and drug trafficking tactics evolve, so does the strategy we implement with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as well as our community partners,” Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry stated. “We are your neighbors, and we are committed to improving public safety in every neighborhood of our county.”

“This is a great example of the synergy that can be gained when law enforcement pools resources and works together to bring down criminal drug organizations,” said Inspector in Charge Patricia Armstrong of the Detroit Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation said, “IRS Criminal Investigation is charged with disrupting the money flow of criminal organizations. Our agents trace criminal proceeds and work to deprive criminals of their illicit spoils. Together with our OCDETF partners we dismantle illegal drug and money laundering enterprises that try to take root in Indiana.”

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said, “Partnerships like this are what put criminal organizations out of business and their operators in prison.” Carter continued, “For those who are addicted, there is help, but for those who are contributing to - and profiting from - the addiction and misery of others; we have prison cells waiting.”

An indictment is merely a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendant are considered innocent until proven guilty in federal court. 

                        In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) is utilized to target, investigate, and prosecute more violent criminal organizations, with a goal of detaining and sentencing more violent offenders to significant prison terms. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan  Section 2.1