Southern District of Indiana agencies receive prestigious national award
Indianapolis B United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that the Southern District of Indiana was the recipient of the 2018 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) National Award for Innovative Investigation Efforts for the multi-agency investigative work conducted during “Operation Smooth Criminal." This prestigious national award most exemplifies the mission and spirit of the OCDETF Program and recognizes the many agencies within the Southern District of Indiana involved in “Operation Smooth Criminal."
Recognized for their contribution to this successful investigation were investigators Louis Arona, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), DeMarkus Calhoun, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Seth Murray, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS - CI), and Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy J. Cho and MaryAnn T. Mindrum.
“The Department’s OCDETF successes would not be possible but for the courageous sacrifices made by dedicated public servants like the agents and AUSAs assigned to this operation," said United States Attorney Minkler. “After more than 20 years, I continue to be impressed with these tireless commitments to safety and the rule of law. We especially appreciate this recognition of creative and innovative enforcement oftentimes necessary to meet criminals where they hide."
“The false sense of anonymity provided by the Dark Web and the subterfuge practiced by the suspects in this case was no match for the combined efforts of federal law enforcement," said Patricia Armstrong, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division. “The investigative work that led to the distinguished national OCDETF award for Operation Smooth Criminal serves as a model for tackling these complex cases through utilizing innovation."
“The strength of the DEA has always, and continues, to thrive from the partnerships forged with our various law enforcement counterparts. This award marks a pivotal point in law enforcement history. While today’s traffickers are taking advantage of enhanced technology like encryption and virtual currencies, the men and women of our modern-day law enforcement community are exploring new and innovative ways to dismantle these operations," said DEA’s Brian M. McKnight.
“IRS Criminal Investigation has dedicated resources to understanding and tracking financial transactions in the cyber environment," said Gabriel Grchan, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. “Special Agent Seth Murray’s work on Operation Smooth Criminal is a fine example of our successes in the evolving area of cyber financial crime. Criminals often think they can exploit the anonymity of the cyber world; however, IRS-CI and our partners are right there to shut them down. I am proud of the work of Special Agent Murray and everyone who was a part of this outstanding investigative team. I congratulate Seth and all the award recipients for their exemplary efforts."
“Operation Smooth Criminal" was an investigation spanning over four years that ultimately dismantled a heroin and cocaine distribution ring supplying drugs regionally and throughout the country. What began as an investigation into drug trafficking on the Dark Web led to the ultimate arrest and conviction of Burnett, a/k/a “Doe," the leader of a major heroin and cocaine distribution ring in the Indianapolis area and elsewhere. In October 2013, federal law enforcement agencies shut down the Dark Web site Silk Road. Through a joint investigation by DEA, USPIS, and the IRS-CI, law enforcement learned that Lee Gray, a Camby, Indiana, resident at the time, was selling heroin and cocaine in exchange for bitcoins on Silk Road, and later other Dark Web sites such as Black Bank. Gray shipped the drugs to customers located throughout the United States using the U.S. mail. Gray then laundered his bitcoins using foreign bitcoin-exchange companies to wire U.S. currency into multiple bank accounts in his own and other names. He also sold bitcoins on the Dark Web to other users in exchange for cash that the other users mailed to him. Gray obtained his supply of heroin and cocaine from Burnett. From at least 2012 through Aug. 18, 2015, Burnett obtained heroin and cocaine directly from a Mexican source of supply, and would pay the Mexican source by delivering large bags of money to Mexican couriers. Burnett distributed the drugs to drug distributers, including Gray and Alan Duncan (a/k/a “Al Gore"), another drug distributor in the Southern District of Ohio, who sold these drugs within and outside of their local communities. Burnett was responsible for distributing at least 17 kilograms of heroin and 25 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy. Burnett received a sentence of 188 months imprisonment. Gray received a sentence of 75 months. Gore received a sentence of 150 months imprisonment in Ohio.
This investigation’s success was possible due to the collaborative efforts by multiple organizations, including the DEA Indianapolis Office, USPIS, IRS - CI, DEA Dayton Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
