All alleged to have brought large quantities of narcotics into the Evansville area.
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis-United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that seven defendants face federal drug charges for their role in bringing large quantities of illegal drugs into the Evansville area.
“Maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods remains a top priority of my office," said Minkler. “The violence that often comes with drug dealing is disruptive to the well-being of the citizens of Evansville."
On July 10, 2018, Seroy Mobley 34, Evansville, Seneca Binder, 37, Evansville, Eric Wilkerson, 37, Whitestown, Kentucky, and Carl Kirkland, 53, Antioch, California, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mobley is alleged to be the main distributor who received his supply of methamphetamine from Kirkland who lived in California. Binder and Wilkerson received their methamphetamine from Mobley and would redistribute the drug in and around the Evansville area. Law enforcement executed warrants at Mobley’s residence where they found 350 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm in the bedroom of Mobley’s infant child. All remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
On July 11, 2018, Justin Helsley, 27, Evansville, and Nicholas Grayson, 27, Evansville, were charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. It is alleged that Helsley received his supply of drugs from a dealer in Los Angeles, California, and Grayson helped him distribute the narcotics locally. Federal authorities traveled to California and worked closely with law enforcement there and arrested Helsley and Grayson. DEA agents, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force Officers and deputies from the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department executed federal and state search warrants in connection with this investigation and seized eight firearms, several pounds of marijuana, nearly five pounds of heroin, several hundred Oxycodone pills and over $1 million in cash.
On July 25, 2018, Demarco Davis, 37, Evansville, was charged by a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. DEA and Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force received information that Demarco Davis was alleged to be a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker in the Evansville area. Demarco met with his source of supply in an Evansville hotel and exchanged bags believed to be filled with cash and methamphetamine. As Davis left the hotel, he was arrested and found to be in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine to which he had just paid $64,000 in United States currency. Davis remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
These cases are being investigated by the DEA, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force and the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department.
“Those who deal drugs in this community bring a great deal of violence and prey on the vulnerabilities of those with substance abuse problems," said Doug Freyberger, Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA in Evansville. “We will continue to work with our local partners to make this community a safer place to live, work and raise a family."
“These arrests highlight the strong working relationship between the Evansville Police Department and our partners at the Drug Enforcement Agency," said Sergeant Jason Cullom. “We appreciate the work being done by the DEA and our Task Force Officers as we continue to address the issues of drug abuse and addiction."
“We are working fiercely to remove drugs and drug dealers from our streets," said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding. “We hope that the dealers are punished severely and that the addicts are offered treatment; enforcement and education/treatment may slow the distribution and usage in our community."
Indictments and criminal complaints are only charges and 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.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who traffic in large quantities of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 3.3
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
