INDIANAPOLIS- A federal grand jury has found Rick Coley, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana and David Duggar, 40, of Greenwood, Indiana guilty on all counts following an eight-day trial. Coley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment for a felony. Duggar was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“These convictions further demonstrate the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to systematically target, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for pumping the most dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the work of all agencies involved in dismantling this operation to hold criminals accountable when they seek to exploit substance use disorder with no regard for those who are harmed or killed.”

“This sentencing is an example of a successful partnership between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to protect the mail system from being used for criminal purposes, such as drug transportation and trafficking”, said Detroit Division Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between January and July 2021, Rick Coley and David Duggar, among other co-conspirators, distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Indianapolis for the ringleader of the operation, Jason Betts. The methamphetamine and fentanyl had been transported to Indianapolis from a source in California.

In July of 2021, federal agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed a large-scale takedown operation that led to the arrest of 17 individuals, with 2 individuals being fugitives. During the investigation, approximately 35 firearms, $70,000 in currency, 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of cocaine, and 30 pounds of marijuana were seized.

As of today, the other 18 defendants have been charged and pled guilty. 10 of the total 20 defendants are awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys, Bradley A. Blackington and Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon presided over the trial. Coley and Duggar will be sentenced at a later date. Both face up to life in federal prison. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

First story released in July of 2021

Organized Drug Trafficking Operation Taken Down

INDIANAPOLIS – Nineteen individuals have been indicted in relation to a federal methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking operation in Indianapolis. Seventeen of these individuals are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

During the morning of July 14, 2021, federal agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed arrest and search warrants in numerous locations centralized to the Indianapolis area. This operation led to the arrest of 17 individuals, with 2 individuals being fugitives. During the investigation, approximately 35 firearms, $70,000 in currency, 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of cocaine, and 30 pounds of marijuana were seized.

According to the indictment, Jason Betts directed the activities of a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking organization in Indianapolis. Montez Wells and Richard Wells also distributed significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine as part of this organization. Betts, Montez Wells and Richard Wells coordinated their activities by receiving methamphetamine and fentanyl from their sources, sharing controlled substances with each other, and distributing the controlled substances to other dealers. Individuals in the conspiracy distributed and or assisted in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Indianapolis area as well as other locations in Indiana. The investigation revealed that Betts often received 100-pound shipments of methamphetamine from his source.

“I believe the safety and quality of life of citizens living in Indianapolis neighborhoods improves when law enforcement works collaboratively,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “This happens by pooling resources to target, investigate and prosecute organizations engaged in drug trafficking in our community. That is precisely what occurred in this case.”

“This was a win for law enforcement and more importantly, for the community. We were able to effectively shut down a criminal organization responsible for a lot of the violence around our city,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “This investigation and subsequent arrests would not have been possible without our federal, state and local partners.”

Those charged include:

Jason Betts, 26, Indianapolis
Jennifer Black, 39, Indianapolis
Montez Wells, 30, Indianapolis
Richard Wells, 28, Indianapolis
Aleshalia Boss, 40, Indianapolis
Carl Wilson, 34, Indianapolis
Donta Hampton, 34, Indianapolis
Rick Coley, 34, Indianapolis
Colin Johnson, 30, Indianapolis
David Duggar, 38, Greenwood
Brian McGee, 42, Indianapolis
Justin Helms, 41, Spencer
William Mosier, 41, Indianapolis
Christina Pennington, 26, Indianapolis
Mar-Kel Sampson, 29, Indianapolis
Asa Vetters, 30, Indianapolis
Brittany Cocco, 31, Indianapolis
Marco Uribe, 41, Indianapolis
Kenneth K. Fielder, 26, Bloomfield

If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiracy face 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley A. Blackington is prosecuting this case for the government.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.