Indianapolis, IN
Ringleader gets life in prison for drug trafficking to Indianapolis from LA
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man who federal prosecutors called the ringleader of an effort to traffic large amounts of drugs to Indianapolis from California has been sentenced to life in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice says a federal jury found Keith J. Jones, aka “Keybo” 57, of Indianapolis, guilty of drug trafficking, laundering money, and running a criminal enterprise. He also was found guilty of being a felon who had a firearm.
Investigator say Jones directed other people to receive the drug parcels at their homes and businesses, and then stashed them at a home at 2877 N. Centennial St. in Indianapolis. That’s southeast of the intersection of West 30th Street and Lafayette Road on west side.
Prosecutors say Jones was among 22 people who’ve been convicted and sentenced in connection to the drug-trafficking organization. Prosecutors say the group distributed at least 300 pounds of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of fentanyl, and 50 kilograms of cocaine in the Indianapolis area from Sept. 20, 2020, through July 21, 2022.
Kevin M. Backstrom, 58, of Los Angeles, was the drug supplier for the organization. He was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison as part of the trafficking and money laundering.
Seven other people convicted in connection to the drug ring received sentences from 10 to 20 years, prosecutors say.
Assistant U.S. attorneys Brad Blackington and Kelsey L. Massa prosecuted this case.
Statements
“Drug overdose deaths touch every Hoosier — our families, our friends, our children. These tragedies are overwhelmingly driven by trafficking of fentanyl and other deadly opioids. Fentanyl is concealed in everything from fake pharmaceuticals to rainbow candy-colored pills, and even within other controlled substances like methamphetamine. If you are pushing this poison, take notice that our office is working every day with federal, state, and local law enforcement to reduce the supply of these deadly drugs and put you in federal prison, potentially for life.”
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN
Philip Rivers fell one throw short of storybook ending in his couch-to-Colts return
He had one last throw left in that 44-year-old wing of his. For most of the afternoon, he’d been able to fool Father Time and frighten 68,771 Seattle Seahawks fans inside Lumen Field who’d come to bury Philip Rivers and, instead, watched him push their football team to the very brink of an impossible upset.
There had been a moment when it seemed Rivers might actually pull off the damn thing, too. That was with 1 minute and 55 seconds left in the game. The Colts led for so much of the game and were behind Seattle 15-13, but the ball was in the old man’s hands now. All day, he’d been careful and efficient. It got him a 13-3 lead at one point. Now, he needed to make a play.
And damned if he didn’t make a play.
Damned if he didn’t throw a 16-yard back-shoulder special to wide receiver Alec Pierce. Damned if that ball didn’t mean the Seahawks were now going to burn all of their timeouts because, in the NFL in 2025, just making it past midfield — as that throw did — means you’re in field goal range.
The Indianapolis Colts have cooled considerably as the season has progressed, going from the NFL’s best record to out of the playoff picture entering Week 15 action.
But one of today’s notable storylines is the return of quarterback Philip Rivers after five years away from the NFL. He’s on the Colts’ active roster as they prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks.
The 44-year-old was on Lumen Field hours before kickoff, taking mental reps.
Colts QB Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury last week, and backup Riley Leonard suffered a knee injury, though he remains on the active roster. With Brett Rypien the only other QB on their roster and list of available QBs lacking, the Colts called the last signal-caller to lead them in a playoff game (after the 2020 season).
His comeback has piqued the interest of a former Colts coach and players, his former teammates on the Chargers, former NFL quarterbacks and even those from outside football.
Reaction to Philip Rivers being on the Indianapolis Colts today
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
As snow begins to taper off through Indiana, the National Weather Service has begun receiving reports of snow totals.
Here’s how much snow has been reported so far on Dec. 13, according to the NWS.
Snow totals in the Indianapolis area
Carmel: 5.8 inches at 8:01 p.m.
Cumberland: 5 inches at 7:25 p.m.
Indianapolis International Airport: 5 inches at 7:06 p.m.
Brownsburg: 5.7 inches at 6:37 p.m.
Fishers: 5.5 inches at 6:28 p.m.
Westfield: 5.5 inches at 6:05 p.m.
Franklin: 5.1 inches at 5:26 p.m.
Avon: 4.8 inches at 5:25 p.m.
Downtown Indianapolis: 3.5 inches at 5:10 p.m.
Snow totals around Indiana
Dillsboro: 4.5 inches at 8 p.m.
Nashville: 5.5 inches at 7:40 p.m.
Hope: 5.4 inches at 7:33 p.m.
Greensburg: 5 inches at 7:10 p.m.
Rushville: 5 inches at 6:50 p.m.
Batesville: 4.7 inches at 6:30 p.m.
Selma: 6 inches at 6:20 p.m.
Anderson: 6 inches at 5:56 p.m.
Terre Haute: 5.4 inches at 5:50 p.m.
Thorntown: 6 inches at 5:05 p.m.
(This story will be updated)
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