12 face federal criminal charges in trafficking of meth in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A federal grand jury has indicted 11 individuals and one other particular person was arrested as a part of an effort to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in an Indianapolis-based drug trafficking group, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in Indianapolis says.

The indictment was unsealed Dec. 14, the workplace mentioned in a U.S. Division of Justice information launch issued Wednesday morning.

The workplace says court docket paperwork present the individuals, starting in 2021, primarily distributed methamphetamine in Indianapolis:

• Erick “Bustos” Apolinar Romero, 33, of Indianapolis, operated from Indianapolis and organized for the supply of the managed substances to Indianapolis for his or her redistribution by different members of the conspiracy.
• Romero and Julian “Chusy” Islas-Lozada, 35, of Indianapolis, maintained residential properties to stash and distribute the unlawful medication. The properties included an house within the Nora neighborhood on the north aspect of Indianapolis.
• Kevin Josue Patino-Romero, 20, of Indianapolis, facilitated the motion of drug proceeds.

“The members of the conspiracy used mobile units and code phrases to facilitate these drug trafficking actions,” the discharge mentioned. “Members of the conspiracy allegedly travelled to Nebraska on a number of events in October and November 2022 to amass medication that had been being smuggled by practice automotive and produce them to Indianapolis for distribution.”

Authorities seized roughly 408 kilos of methamphetamine; 8 kilograms of fentanyl, and 28 firearms. The seized firearms included a number of semi-automatic AR platform rifles. Roughly $32,800 in U.S. money in addition to six autos, two trailers, three all-terrain autos and a mud bike additionally had been seized.

Listed below are the 12 individuals arrested within the case and their costs:

• Erick Romero aka “Erick Bustos,” aka “Christian Ramirez,” 33, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; methamphetamine distribution; tried possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine; and illegal use of a communication facility.
• Julian Islas-Lozada, aka “Chusy,” 35, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; methamphetamine distribution; and illegal use of a communication facility.
• Alexander Franco-Lopez, aka “Sicario,” aka “Nino,” 19, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; and tried possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
• Kevin Josue Patino-Romero, 20, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; and methamphetamine distribution.
• Junior Castillo, aka “Catracho,” 35, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; and tried possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
• Eduardo Perez-Martinez, aka “Cholilo,” 28, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; and tried possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
• Jesus Alberto Casillas-Martinez, aka “Cholo,” 26, Indianapolis: fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy; and tried possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
• Zachary Polk, 45, Vincennes: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Matthew Wright, 45, Greencastle: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Richard Michael Moore, aka “Mike Moore,” aka “Suegro,” 54, Indianapolis: illegal use of a communication facility.
• Eduardo Abel Torres De Leon, aka “Primo,” aka “Forty,” 29, West Grove, Pennsylvania: illegal use of a communication facility.
• Jose Ponciano-Felix, 41, Indianapolis: possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Felix was a part of an arrest separate from the indictment.

As of Tuesday, 11 of the 12 had been ordered detained pending trial or detaining pending listening to. Richard Michael Moore was ordered launched on circumstances set by the Courtroom.

“This case was a results of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Company, IMPD’s Drug Job Drive, HSI, america Postal Inspection Service, and IRS-CI. The Beech Grove Police Division, Lawrence Police Division, IMPD, Indiana State Police, and the FBI assisted within the execution of search and arrest warrants,” the discharge mentioned.