U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett announced Monday that a federal grand jury has indicted 26 defendants — including 5 from North Vernon and one from Seymour – in a multi-layered drug trafficking operation that stretched from the Mars Hill section of Indianapolis to North Vernon, Indiana and other communities in central Indiana.
The investigation initially focused on a methamphetamine trafficking cell operating in County Squire Lakes trailer park in North Vernon, Indiana. As the FBI began to investigate the leaders of this methamphetamine trafficking cell, Donald Maggard and Ashley Wright, they identified a larger methamphetamine trafficking network with sources of supply in the Mars Hill section of Indianapolis. During the FBI’s investigation, they seized approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine, with a wholesale value of approximately $250,000, 22 firearms, and $20,000 in cash.
The FBI also discovered that one of the members of the methamphetamine trafficking cell in the Country Squire Lakes trailer park delivered drugs that resulted in the death of another individual. On April 5, 2014, Jeremy Ray Jackson delivered methamphetamine to his wife, Jessie Jackson, who consumed the methamphetamine and died of a drug overdose.
“The scourge of meth has taken a heavy toll on communities in our state, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is redoubling efforts to combat organized methamphetamine activity in
Southeastern Indiana,”Hogsett said. “The unfortunate death of a twenty-three year old woman who consumed some of this methamphetamine underscores the human cost of methamphetamine trafficking.”
Hogsett added, “Long term investigations, cooperatively maintained, using sensitive investigative techniques, produce significant results. This isn’t small ball. This isn’t
‘three buys and a bust.’ This is what you do when you are serious about making the quality of life in this community better.”
The main indictment charged 19 defendants with participating in the activities of a methamphetamine distribution organization. The indictment charged the following defendants
with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine:
• Donald P. Maggard, 40, of North Vernon, Indiana;
• Ashley N. Wright, 27, of North Vernon, Indiana;
• Jason L. Howard, a/k/a Jay, 33, of North Vernon, Indiana;
• Jason D. Mantooth, 38, of Indianapolis, Indiana;
• Dorothy M. Neeley, 39, of Indianapolis, Indiana;
• Robert J. Holliday, a/k/a Jo Jo, 30, of Indianapolis, Indiana;
• Kimberly A. Ault, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana;
• David L. Bell, 48, of Seymour, Indiana;
• David Eric Chadwell of Osgood, Indiana;
• George R. Nichols, a/k/a Rick, 59, of Butlerville, Indiana;
• Jessica R. Parsons, 32, of North Vernon, Indiana;
• Daniel Charles Maggard, 30, of Indianapolis, Indiana;
• Hector Flores-Mellado, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and
• Jeremy Ray Jackson, 33, of North Vernon, Indiana.
The indictment also charged Marsha D. Fields, 56, of North Vernon, Indiana with maintaining a drug-involved premises and the following individuals with unlawful use of a communications device:
• Danny W. Maggard, 39, an inmate at the Putnamville Correctional Facility;
• Christy N. Walker, 31, of Columbus, Indiana;
• Shannon M. Palmer, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and
• Faris B. Keener, 31, of McMinville, Tennessee
Hogsett explained that the indictment of the 19 defendants was the product of an ongoing investigation that had already produced 7 arrests for drug trafficking and firearms violations in
the Mars Hill area. Those defendants previously arrested included the following:
Jennifer L. Gaddy, 44, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with three counts of
methamphetamine distribution;
• Logan Mediate, 20, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with tampering with a
witness, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession
of a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of a crime of violence, felon in
possession of a firearm, and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;
• Jonathan Anderson, 29, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with felon in possession
of a firearm;
• Dustin H. Pennington, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with felon in
possession of a firearm;
• Dwight L. Holloway, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with possession of
heroin with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm;
• Justin Kincaid, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with felon in possession of a
firearm; and
• Kathleen A. Owens, 29, of Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with two counts of
possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
“It is difficult to know just how much methamphetamine this organization distributed into central Indiana, but their dealing stops now,” said Hogsett. “Those who peddle drugs in our
Hoosier communities will have the full force of federal law to deal with.”
