(WXIN/WTTV) — Over 20 people have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large-scale drug and money laundering ring that brought fentanyl, meth and cocaine into Indiana from the U.S./Mexico border.
In total, 20 Indiana residents from Indianapolis, Columbus, Terre Haute and Seymour were convicted and sentenced. Additional suspects in the case were from California, Arizona and Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 22 suspects implicated in the drug ring were sentenced to over 260 years combined. A full breakdown of the suspects, their charges and their prison sentences can be seen below:
- Isaias Gonzalez-Torres, 34, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 25 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Erlin Lucero-Asencio, 33, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and illegal alien found in the United States
- Sentenced: 27 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Abel Ayala-Garcia, 34, of Columbus
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 24.5 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Juliann Magallanez, 36, of Terre Haute
- Charges: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Sentenced: 15 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- John Whiffing, 50, of Terre Haute
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 14 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Victor Vazquez-Hernandez, 42, of Seymour
- Charge: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 10 years, 7 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Eduardo Rodriguez, 29, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 14 years, 3 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Andrew Calix-Maldonado, 30, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 11 years, 3 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release
- Julio Vicente-Guox, 36, of Indianapolis
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 11 years, 3 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release
- Luis Daniel Hernandez, 27, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 9 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Jendry Medina, 23, of Indianapolis
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 9 years, 2 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Abner Rodas-Abelardez, 39, of Indianapolis
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 5 years, 10 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Kenia Acosta, 41, of Indianapolis
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 9 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Jeami Waleska Sevilla Luna, 30, of Indianapolis
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 8 years, 10 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Dillon Smith, 34, of Terre Haute
- Charge: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 9 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Allison Perdue, 27, of Seymour
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 9 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Eulalia Murillo-Resura, 34, of Indianapolis
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 7 years, 3 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Nathan Lee, 31, of Columbus
- Charge: Distribution of methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
- Emilio Landa-Lagune, 27, of Seymour
- Charge: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 6 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release
- Claudio Garcia-Morales, 38, of Columbus
- Charge: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Sentenced: 3 years, 10 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release
- Candy Medina-Corcoles, 27, of California
- Charge: Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 4 years, 8 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release
- Martin Felix-Garcia, 36, of Phoenix, AZ
- Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
- Sentenced: 25 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release
Officials say one suspect, 34-year-old Edeer Avila of Mexico, is still a fugitive. Avila is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Court documents detail how Gonzalez-Torres was the “primary Indianapolis ringleader” of a drug trafficking organization called DTO. His group was reportedly responsible for bringing in “large quantities” of meth, cocaine and fentanyl into central Indiana.
A police investigation into Gonzalez-Torres resulted in the seizure of 82 pounds of meth, 1,750 fentanyl pills, a kilogram of cocaine and nine guns.
Prosecutors alleged that Gonzalez-Torres and Erlin Lucero-Asencio worked together to bring in large drug shipments from Edeer Avila in Mexico and Martin Felix-Garcia in Arizona. Then, through an “elaborate system of drug couriers and clandestine mail parcels,” the drugs were redistributed via stash houses throughout Indiana.
Documents name Luis Daniel Hernandez, Andrew Calix-Maldonado, Julio Vicente-Guox, and Eduardo Rodriguez as the main drug couriers employed by DTO. These men reportedly delivered drugs to rural communities such as Seymour, Columbus and Terre Haute.
Prosecutors also alleged that DTO and other conspirators laundered drug money through a California bank account belonging to Candy Medina-Corcoles. That money would then be routed through multiple states, including Arizona, California, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio and more, before being deposited into bank accounts based in Mexico.
Agencies involved in the investigation into DTO included the DEA, IRS, Seymour Police Department and JNET. The sentences were imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II and the case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson.