INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 27 years for dealing methamphetamine and heroin, and an additional 20 years for money laundering. The sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents, in late November 2018, George West, 36, of Indianapolis was traveling on I-70 in Hancock County. West had committed several traffic violations and a deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop. West provided the deputy false identification and became combative with the deputy. West ran from the deputy and ended up back at the car he was driving. West attempted to drive from the scene and in doing so struck the deputy with the car. The deputies were able to stop West, but he continued to struggle with the deputies and at one point tried to unholster the deputy’s gun.
A K9 officer was at the scene and his K9 partner alerted that Wests vehicle may contain an illegal substance. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies found approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. West admitted to possessing the drugs and said he had more at his apartment. During the execution of a search warrant of West’s apartment, officers found four loaded firearms, approximately 500 grams of heroin, over 300 grams of methamphetamine, and other items related to illegal drug trafficking.
The investigators also determined that between May 2017 and November 2018, West purchased money orders every month with his illegal drug proceeds to pay rent at the apartment he used for his drug dealing. To conceal the laundering of his drug profits, West utilized another person to sign the lease to the apartment and placed their name on the money orders he used to pay the rent. That amount totaled over $29,000.
“Heroin and methamphetamine are dangerous drugs that continue to ravage our communities," said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “Putting those who infect our streets with these terrible drugs behind bars has been and will continue to be a top priority of this office."
This investigation was a collaborative effort between several law enforcement agencies. The IRS-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigation, DEA, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement Team (PACE) from Hancock and Henry Counties investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Brady, who prosecuted the case for the government said West must also serve 5 years supervised release after his imprisonment.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
