Anderson man gets 47 years for dealing fentanyl, cocaine

ANDERSON, Ind. — A wiretap operation resulted in an Anderson man being sentenced to over 40 years in prison on multiple drug-related charges.

According to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, 43-year-old Robert Hendricks was sentenced to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Correction followed by seven years on probation. He was sentenced on July 9.

Hendricks previously pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Three counts of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Level 2 Felony)
• Four counts of Dealing in Cocaine (Level 2 Felony)
• Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Level 5 Felony)
• Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Cocaine (Level 5 Felony)
• Dealing in Cocaine (Level 3 Felony)
• Money Laundering (Level 6 Felony)

The charges stem from a narcotics investigation that occurred between October 2023 and April 2024. During the investigation, the Anderson Police Department collaborated with Indiana State Police to conduct a wiretap operation.

According to court documents, the Madison County Drug Task Force conducted three controlled purchases of narcotics as part of an effort to target Hendricks. The controlled purchases were carried out with assistance from a “confidential informant”, court documents revealed.

The informant was involved in three “controlled” purchases of narcotics from Hendricks at a residence on State Street in Anderson. During these interactions, the informant was equipped with a recording device, which detectives used as evidence. MCPO noted that associates and other “customers” were also arrested in connection with the case.

The informant purchased blue “M30” pills and cocaine from Hendricks. The counterfeit pharmaceutical pills were field-tested and were positively identified as fentanyl. The investigation concluded with APD’s Narcotics Unit seizing around 280 grams of fentanyl and 105 grams of cocaine.