A resident of northwest Indianapolis has been arrested and indicted on suspicion of several drug crimes based upon the results of a joint investigation by the Plainfield police department and the Metropolitan Drug Task Force. The suspect is facing charges for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and related criminal charges.
The case began when a Plainfield police officer, working as a member of the Metropolitan Drug Task Force, allegedly received an anonymous tip about a supposed drug tracker working in Indianapolis. Based upon the tip, police began watching two addresses, one in northwest Indianapolis and one in Avon. After an unspecified period of surveillance, officers obtained search warrants for both addresses. The address in Avon turned out to be the residence of the suspect, but police say they recovered eight guns, two digital scales bearing traces of cocaine and more than $310,000 in cash. At the address in Indianapolis, police allegedly discovered a marijuana harvesting operation, including 40 pounds of marijuana in sealed plastic bags.
After searching the houses in Avon and Indianapolis, police obtained a third search warrant for three storage units. When they searched the storage units, police allegedly found two more guns, 24 vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, a brick of cocaine weighing more than 1,000 grams and two sealed bags of cocaine, altogether weighing 400 grams. Police also recovered a Cadillac DeVille in which they allegedly found another 1,000 grams of marijuana and 279 grams of cocaine.
The suspect has been indicted in federal court on charges of possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute. Many facts are yet unknown, including information provided by the police as the justification for the search warrants and the exact places where the cocaine, marijuana and guns were discovered. Anyone in similar circumstances may wish to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney for advice on potential defense strategies.
Source: The Indy Channel, “Police raid Indy, Avon properties, find $1.3M-worth of weed and $77,000-worth of cocaine,” Jordan Fischer, Oct. 9, 2017