A Greenwood man has been convicted by a federal jury for his role in a drug trafficking operation that crossed state lines.
David Duggar, 40, was found guilty by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following an eight-day trial. His co-defendant, Rick Coley, 36, of Indianapolis, was found guilty 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, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
Both men were convicted on all counts, federal prosecutors say.
The indictment resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. The task force 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, according to the news release.
Between January and July 2021, Duggar and Coley — 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, federal prosecutors say.
In July 2021, federal agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed a large-scale take-down operation in numerous locations around the Indianapolis area. This operation led to the arrest of 17 individuals, with 2 individuals being fugitives, federal prosecutors say.
As of Tuesday, the other 18 defendants have been charged and pleaded guilty. Of the total 20 defendants, 10 are still awaiting sentencing, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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, federal prosecutors say.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers commended the work of all the agencies involved in dismantling the operation and holding criminals accountable when “they seek to exploit substance use disorder with no regard for those who are harmed or killed.” The case was investigated by the FBI, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
“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,” Myers said.
Duggar and Coley will be sentenced at a later date, and face sentences up to life in federal prison. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties, federal prosecutors say.
