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A federal court sentenced four individuals to a combined 30 years in prison for involvement in a central Indiana drug trafficking operation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced on Tuesday that the individuals were found responsible for distributing at least 55 kilograms of cocaine throughout the state from a business located near the east side of Indianapolis.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Sweeney II sentenced Kristopher Chavez, 38, of Gary, to 8 years and 11 months in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Eric Kendrick, 45, of Fishers, received 11 years and 8 months in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Delray Bragg, 42, of Richmond, Indiana, was sentenced to 5 years and 11 months in federal prison with 3 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. And Joaquin Ramirez-Molina, 41, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison with 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayson McGrath and Matt Barloh prosecuted the case.
“The larger the number of drugs, the larger the threat to our community, and accordingly the more aggressive the response of my office and our law enforcement partners,” Tom Wheeler, the U.S. attorney for the southern district, said in a written statement. “Our federal prosecutors remain steadfast in partnering with the DEA, ATF, and local drug task forces to remove dealers from our streets. These poisons are devastating our neighborhoods and the people we love, and we are committed to confronting that harm with every tool at our disposal.”
According to court documents, law enforcement discovered the drug trafficking organization in 2023.
Through an investigation, law enforcement learned that in 2019, Kendrick leased commercial property at 5641 Massachusetts Ave. to be used as a stash house for storing and distributing cocaine.
On May 31, 2023, Ramirez‑Molina arrived at the stash house with two cocaine-filled suitcases while Chavez arrived with contraband in his vehicle, according to the Tuesday press release. The pair retrieved various items used to repackage drugs and a black duffel bag with $200,000 in cash for payment.
Moments later, the announcement states, Bragg arrived at the stash house to pick up 10 kilograms of cocaine for redistribution. As he left the property, IMPD officers stopped Bragg. But before the officers searched his vehicle, Bragg texted the other drug traffickers to warn them. They then fled the stash house.
Law enforcement conducted subsequent searches of the property, along with the defendants’ residences, and recovered:
- $582,591 in cash
- 55 kilograms of cocaine
- Seven handguns and ammunition
- Three vehicles
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