INDIANAPOLIS — Seventeen people were arrested Wednesday morning as the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided multiple locations across Indianapolis.
It was part of an investigation called Operation Curtain Call. For 10 months, law enforcement officers have been using wiretaps and secret surveillance to stop violence and drug trafficking in street gangs.
Here's what federal authorities seized during the raid:
- 35 guns
- 14 pounds of meth
- 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl
- 6 ounces of cocaine
- 30 pounds of marijuana
- $70,000 in cash
In a news conference Thursday, Acting U.S. Attorney John Childress said the 17 people arrested are facing crimes with sentences ranging from 10 years to life, if convicted.
Most of the raids happened on the east and northeast side of the city.
One of the homes raided was near 51st Street and Crittenden Avenue. 13News talked to a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. He said in his time there, he hasn't seen much crime.
"We really don't ever see a lot of bad stuff over here. It's quiet," the neighbor said. But Wednesday morning was different. "We were laying in bed for a second and heard a really loud boom and came out to all sorts of activity."
The neighbor said the whole situation is unsettling and it's nice to know the drugs, guns and money seized are now gone.
Childress said the ringleader of the trafficking scheme was 26-year-old Jason Betts. Betts is accused of getting large quantities of meth and fentanyl from outside Indianapolis, then distributing it to the Indianapolis community. DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon noted the amount of fentanyl seized — nearly 2 kilograms — is enough lethal doses to kill 500,000 people.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said several of the defendants are believed to be responsible for multiple homicides.
There are 19 people named in the federal indictment. They're accused of drug conspiracy and related charges. Thursday, federal officials said one more person was recently brought into custody. One suspect is still at large.
These are the 19 people listed on the indictment:
- 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
The FBI said Montez and Richard Wells played a significant role in coordinating with Betts to share the drugs with other dealers to distribute.
"It was one step of many to make the city of Indianapolis a safer place for its citizens," Keenan said. "Collectively, we were able to effectively shut down a criminal organization responsible for much of the violence around our city."
FBI Indianapolis was assisted by FBI Cincinnati, FBI Louisville, FBI Las Vegas, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Fishers Police Department.
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