Arizona to Indianapolis drug connection disrupted with arrests and confiscation of heroin, cocaine and over $1.8 million in cash
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis--United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Rick Hite, announced today four men have been charged federally for their role a drug trafficking operation that stretched from Tempe, Arizona to Indianapolis. Federal agents and IMPD detectives served search warrants at three west-side locations yesterday morning and confiscated large quantities of heroin, cocaine and cash.
Those arrested include:
* Geraldo Colon, 46, Indianapolis
* Darrell Fuqua, 39, Indianapolis
* Agustin Osuna-Toquillas, 26
* Marco AntonioBueno-Acosta, 24
All were charged with Conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
“Drug dealing has proven fatal too many times recently in Indianapolis," said Minkler. “Our top commitment remains doing everything possible to keep our neighborhoods safe and we will use all laws at our disposal to make that happen. Dismantling armed drug trafficking organizations is a critical component to our priority of reducing violent crime in Indianapolis."
“The collaborative efforts in this case by our investigators, law enforcement and federal agency partners, showcase the overall commitment of improving the quality of life in our city," said Chief Rick Hite. “By disrupting and dismantling major organizations that introduce and distribute the illegal drugs found in our streets, we can continue our focus on eliminating one of the major root causes of violent crime in our community."
Law enforcement officials have been pursuing this investigation since late 2013. In January 2014, after an investigation by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and IMPD, 13 individuals were arrested after officers seized approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, twelve firearms (including two assault rifles and two stolen handguns) and $200,000.00 in the Bulter-Tarkington area. As a result of their investigation, Colon was identified as a major target.
In May 2014, Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Phoenix, AZ., provided information that large amounts of narcotics were being shipped to Indianapolis. Colon again was a primary target as one of the main distributors of narcotics in the Indianapolis area. As a result of the information from DEA, several arrests were made involving large quantities of heroin and cocaine. On May 15, 2014, one kilogram of heroin, two firearms and over $1.8 million in currency was confiscated from a Greenwood, Indiana residence with connections back to Colon. On May 29, 2014, IMPD detectives obtained information involving the same group that led to the seizure of approximately forty pounds of methamphetamine and five firearms - two of which were stolen.
On Jan. 20, 2015, law enforcement arrested Daniel Stewart, an associate of Colon and confiscated five handguns (two of which were stolen) approximately two kilograms of heroin, two kilograms of cocaine and two pounds of methamphetamine along with $487,542.00 in U.S. currency. Law enforcement continued their surveillance of Colon and on March 24, 2015, he was observed loading a large box into the rear of a vehicle at his residence in the 3500 block of N. Moller Road. The vehicle drove away but was stopped a few minutes later and was found to contain 10 kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of heroin.
Search warrants were served at Colon’s residence and two other locations known to be associated with Colon on March 24, 2015. There, officers found four kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of heroin and well over $1.8 million in cash.
In total, 20 federal and 45 state defendants have been charged, over ten kilograms of heroin, 25 kilograms of cocaine, 42 pounds of methamphetamine, 25 guns and $ 4.5 million in cash has been confiscated.
This investigation was conducted through the efforts of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, IMPD, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indiana State Police.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Brady who is prosecuting this case for the government, all defendants face from 10 years to life if convicted.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
