INDIANA — Ten people have been sentenced for their roles in a large Indianapolis-based drug trafficking ring that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine across central Indiana.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the operation ran from October 2022 through November 2023 and spanned Indianapolis, Muncie, Terre Haute and surrounding areas. The investigation began in Vigo County and culminated in November 2023 when federal and local law enforcement executed multiple search warrants.
Authorities seized:
- 25,000 fentanyl pills
- Two pounds of methamphetamine
- Nearly 349 grams of cocaine base
- 225 grams of cocaine
- 487 grams of fentanyl laced with xylazine
- More than a dozen firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition
- Nearly $19,000 in cash
Federal investigators identified 44-year-old Joshua Kendall of Indianapolis as the ringleader, alleging he used threats to control members of the operation. Kendall received the longest sentence — 33 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Other sentences ranged from 23 years to four years in prison, depending on each defendant’s role. The case was investigated by the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation, ATF, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Vigo County Drug Task Force.
