U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces More Than a Dozen Charged in Indianapolis for Guns, Drugs
U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett Says Prosecution is More Results in Ongoing Collaboration with IMPD

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that more than a dozen defendants have been arrested on federal charges related to a significant drug trafficking operation in the Indianapolis area. Joined by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Rick Hite, Hogsett said the prosecution was another example of successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement.

“Working together with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and our partners here at IMPD, we are targeting the ‘worst of the worst’ in Indianapolis for federal prosecution,” Hogsett said. “The charges we’re announcing today fit that description—individuals who allegedly embraced a culture of drugs, guns, and disregard for the rule of law.”

“I am proud of the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and IMPD in identifying and capturing several gang members and their accomplices operating in the northeast corridor of the our city,” said Chief Hite. “The federal charges placed on the gang members are indicative of our mission to rid the city of violence and promoting peace in our neighborhoods.”

In May 2012, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department initiated a concentrated investigation into the gang activity and street level drug trafficking activities in the Mapleton-Fall Creek area. This investigation was a direct response to an increase in gang violence and street-level drug trafficking in those areas.

The focus of the investigation was to reduce violence and disrupt the street-level drug distribution in those areas by targeting organized gang activity. A street gang called the “Buddah Boyz” had been identified by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Gang Unit and the IMPD North District as the controlling street gang in that area. The Buddah Boyz gang and its associates have been identified as controlling street-level drug trafficking in some of the targeted areas, along with their possible involvement in several shootings, robberies, and homicides in the targeted area.

In order to most effectively target the Buddah Boyz criminal gang and its drug and gun activities, a collaborative investigation was launched that included the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI and its Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office.

In June of this year, this joint effort began using a number of sophisticated techniques in the investigation of the Buddah Boyz organization, including the use of wiretaps. As a result, law enforcement was able to identify the major cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drug suppliers to the Buddah Boyz gang and its associates.

In the end, two significant drug organizations were identified and now have been dismantled. One of the operations was responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana into the Indianapolis area from California. A second operation was found to have been involved in distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine into the Mapleton-Fall Creek area. Both organizations used firearms in their criminal activities.

In the course of this investigation, 12 federal search warrants and six state search warrants were obtained and executed, along with two interdiction traffic stops. As a result, law enforcement seized over five pounds of marijuana, valued at $20,000, as well as cocaine with a street value of $75,000, assorted pills, 21 loaded firearms, and 11 vehicles that included a 2007 Mercedes (value of $45-60,000) and two motorcycles (value of $46,000).

The following individuals have been charged as part of this investigation:

• Justin Rogers, a/k/a J-Rod, age 32, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity
• Robert Ray Richardson, a/k/a Rob, age 35, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity
• Joshua Young, a/k/a Duck, age 39, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute
• Michael Young, a/k/a Baby Mike, age 39, of Indianapolis; fugitive; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute
• Daniel Laderson, a/k/a Freeze, age 31, of Indianapolis; fugitive; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute
• Cory Nelson, age 23, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, felon in possession
• Marcus Williams, a/k/a Fat Ass, age 29, of Indianapolis and California; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Christopher Rachell, age 29, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
• Perkins Grice, a/k/a Perk, age 29, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
• John Grice, a/k/a Johnnie, age 47, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
• Mark Shaffer, a/k/a One-O, age 47, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Mathew Bridgewater, a/k/a Bridge, age 30, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Gerald Rachell, a/k/a BJ, age 31, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Lawrence Johnson, age 28, of Indianapolis; conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kg of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who is prosecuting the case for the government, all of the defendants are facing up to decades in federal prison, as well as significant fines.

All of the allegations against the above defendants are only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.