Greenwood served as the receiving point for hundreds of pounds of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine distributed in the Indianapolis area by a drug trafficking organization, a federal investigation uncovered.
An Indianapolis man described as the ringleader of the organization was convicted in federal court this week on drug distribution, money laundering and false bankruptcy charges, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.
Geraldo Colon, 48, was found guilty after a six-day jury trial before U.S District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, the release said.
The investigation began in May 2014 when law enforcement officials learned that large quantities of narcotics were being shipped to the Indianapolis area from Phoenix, Arizona.
The drugs were being shipped to a location on Bomar Lane in Greenwood. From there, the drugs were being moved to the Muebleria Luz Furniture Store on the northwest side of Indianapolis, where Colon then distributed them to various Indianapolis-based drug traffickers, the investigation determined.
“The negative impact this organization had on the lives and families of Indianapolis is un-measureable, yet devastating,” said Indianapolis Municipal Police Department Chief Bryan Roach. “I am thankful for the good work and passion all the detectives working in collaboration with our federal partners who continue to pursue these types of crimes and criminals to change lives and make Indianapolis a safer place.”
This case was investigated by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Colon was one of 20 federal defendants charged as part of Operation Family Ties that targeted a well-armed and heavily funded drug trafficking organization. A large portion of the drugs were being distributed on the northwest side of Indianapolis as well as the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood. Two other primary distributors in the “Family Ties” investigation have been sentenced. Daniel Stewart was sentenced to life without parole in November 2016 and Wade Havvard was sentenced to 31 years in May 2016.
Colon faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle P. Brady who prosecuted this case for the government. No sentencing date has been set.
