INDIANAPOLIS — Four men have been found guilty by a federal jury in a multi-state drug trafficking ring.
According to court documents, Keith Jones, 57, of Indianapolis, Kevin Backstrom, 57, of Los Angeles, Anthony Moore, 37, of Indianapolis and Herman Wesley Tavorn, 42, of Indianapolis were all convicted for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Jones, also known as "Keybo" was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute drugs and engage in money laundering as well as charges of leading a criminal enterprise and illegally possessing multiple handguns and an assault rifle. These convictions carry a mandatory life sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Backstrom was convicted of conspiracy to distribute drugs and engage in money laundering. He could face a potential sentence of at least ten years in prison. Moore was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute drugs and also faces at least ten years in prison.
Tavorn was found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and could face ten years or life in prison.
A fifth member, a 38-year-old Indianapolis man, was acquitted of possession with intent to distribute.
The four men convicted are charged along with 17 others in connection with a series of federal indictments that began in July 2022 regarding the drug trafficking ring.
Court documents show Jones obtained the drugs from Backstrom in California. He then sent the drugs through the mail to Jones using false names. According to court documents, Jones then repackaged the drugs and gave them to others for distribution.
Jones also enlisted the help of his 12-year-old daughter to assist him in the distribution of the drugs, according to court documents.
Law enforcement seized roughly 43 firearms, $300,000 in cash, four ounces of meth, one kilo of cocaine and two kilos of fentanyl while serving a search warrant.
The other defendants in the case plead guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
