INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Federal Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys laid out some of their strategies Tuesday morning in day one of the Grundy Crew Drug Trial.
Court document outline the long list of charges against Richard Grundy III and four members of the so-called "Grundy Crew."
They will spend several weeks at the federal courthouse in downtown Indianapolis fighting charges that could cost some of them freedom for the rest of their lives.
Court documents list the defendants as Richard Bernard Grundy, III; Derek Atwater; James Beasley; Ezell Neville and Undrae Moseby.
During opening statements, defense attorneys for Atwater and Beasely told the jury that their clients were only drug customers out to buy marijuana for their own personal use but ended up targets of the undercover sting.
Some of the other suspected Grundy Crew members have either taken plea deals or have not been brought up for trial yet.
Federal prosecutors told jurors during opening statements that Grundy headed up a drug ring making millions of dollars selling drugs on the streets of the Circle City.
Court documents lists some of the evidence in the case as seized cash and drugs, controlled undercover buys, wire taps, text messages and even selfies and videos posted on social media.
Prosecutors argue Grundy even posted death threats on social media against people who cooperated with federal investigators.
Grundy hired successful Indianapolis Attorney Kenneth Riggins who has handled a couple of high profile cases in Marion County.
The Grundy Crew is accused of bringing millions of dollars worth marijuana, cocaine, meth and heroin from Arizona to Indianapolis in a one-year period.
During the investigation, one of the federal drug busts happened at an apartment complex on North Meridian near 30th Street.
That’s where suspect David Carroll ended up arrested in the case. Carroll is one of the prosecution witnesses scheduled to testify against Grundy.
Defense attorneys argue Carroll is testifying against their clients in exchange for leniency.
During opening statements, Defense Attorney Kenneth Riggins told the jury that the prosecutors star witness is testifying against his client to save his own life.
“My life is over, my life is over!” said Kenneth Riggins during opening statements referring to David Carroll. Riggins argues Carroll is pointing the finger at Grundy calling him the mastermind behind the alleged drug ring.
FBI and DEA Agents testified on day one of the trial about secretly tracking the Grundy Crew traveling by airlines, vehicles and Greyhound bus to conduct business for their alleged drug enterprise.
Jurors heard audio recordings from an arrest on a Greyhound bus involving one of the suspects in the so-called Grundy Crew.
Drug Enforcement Special Agent Jarrell Perry from New Mexico testified during a routine passenger check on January 18, 2017 that he found a large amount of drugs and cash on suspect Ezell Neville who was on a Greyhound bus headed to Indianapolis from Phoenix, Arizona.
The jury heard the audio recording of the arrest which Agent Perry claims Neville tried to get away. Perry also shared finding drugs and cash strapped to Neville’s travel companion as well.
Jurors also viewed photographs of luggage seized at an airport in Arizona that contained a large amount of Marijuana wrapped with duct tape.
Day one of the trial also included testimony from Indianapolis FBI Special Agent Kerry Anglis who works with the Safe Streets Task Force.
The trial at the federal courthouse is scheduled for six weeks.
U.S. Marshals have added extra layers of security for the case. Some of the defendants family and friends attended the first day of the trial.