Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced four Indiana communities have been awarded Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grants totaling $939,900. The grants will be used to empower these Indiana communities to directly fund homeowners of low-moderate income to make needed repairs on their homes.

“Congratulations to these four Hoosier communities on receiving this grant,” Crouch said. “It is important we continue to look out for all Hoosiers in our cities and towns. This funding will aid these efforts by providing necessary financial assistance to homeowners who need repairs but may have a hard time affording them.”

Communities awarded will set up a program to fund low- and moderate-income homeowners to make repairs on their homes. Eligible repairs include roof repair or replacement, ADA accessibility, heating, and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades, and water heater replacement.

“Home repairs can add up quickly, and for some Hoosiers, these costs could be devastating financially,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “Through this grant, communities can provide financial assistance to these homeowners and allow them to stay in their homes and raise their families in a safe environment.”

These four Hoosier communities received the following amounts: 

• The City of Austin is awarded $225,000; 
• The City of Connersville is awarded $250,000; 
• The City of Mitchell is awarded $250,000; and
• The City of Rushville is awarded $214,900.

The State of Indiana distributes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects.

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program is a pilot program to explore OCRA’s capacity to implement a yearly granting program. 

For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/owner-occupied-rehabilitation-pilot-program.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a two-phased paving project for State Road 66 between Hardinsburg and Milltown.

Beginning on or around Monday, Sept. 27, INDOT maintenance crews will begin the first phase of this project. Workers will be replacing nine culvert pipes on S.R. 66 in advance of the contract paving project. During this phase, maintenance crews will be working between U.S. 150 and S.R. 64.

In the areas where the pipes are being replaced, the road will be completely closed for pavement cuts, excavation, pipe replacement and backfill. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in various locations near the following intersections:

• North Liberty View Road
• East Totten Ford Road
• Baylor Road
• East North Ridge Road
• West Johns Lane
• Pirtle Road

Each culvert pipe is expected to take a few hours and during operations, local traffic will have access up to the point of closure. Through traffic should use the official detour following S.R. 64, S.R. 135, and U.S. 150.

Following the pipe replacements, beginning on or after Monday, Oct. 4, contractors will begin paving between U.S. 150 and S.R. 64. Workers will perform milling and paving while also replacing shoulder stones. This project will be done under lane closure with flaggers to control traffic.

The pavement project is expected to last until mid-November, depending upon weather conditions. Lane width will be restricted to 11-feet. Wider loads should use the official detour following S.R. 64, S.R. 135, and U.S. 150.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

A federal grand jury in Indianapolis returned indictments charging nine people with various charges including several counts of distribution of controlled substances, money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

At the end of 2020, the FBI and the IRS-CI started an investigation on possible drug dealing and money laundering activities being conducted in Indianapolis. During the investigation, agents discovered that individuals from California and Mexico were sending methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to an individual in Indianapolis. The person in Indianapolis, along with others would then sell the drugs in the Indianapolis area and send money back to California. Over $780,000 was exchanged during this investigation.

During the arrests, search warrants were also executed at various locations. In total, 15 handguns, 3 rifles, 2 shotguns, $42,000, 274 grams of cocaine, and 150 pounds of marijuana were seized. Four vehicles were also seized.

Those charged are as follows:

• Martin Herrera-Diaz Jr., 29, Indianapolis, money laundering, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Sandra Herrera, 22, Indianapolis, money laundering.
• Jerzon Herrera, 28, Indianapolis, money laundering, distribution of cocaine.
• Antonio Partida-Chavez, 29, Mexico, five counts of distribution of controlled substances.
• Andy Partida-Chavez, 25, Indianapolis, distribution of controlled substances.
• Brandon Vidal, 27, Indianapolis, distribution of controlled substances.
• Miriam Rodriguez Arguello, 32, Indianapolis, distribution of controlled substances.
• Eric Martinez, 25, Indianapolis, distribution of controlled substances.
• Arnoldo Gonzalez Chavez, 23, Indianapolis, distribution of controlled substances.

If convicted, those charged with money laundering face up to 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine and up to 3 years supervised release. If convicted, those charged with distribution of controlled substances face 10 years to life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, and not less than 5 years supervised release. Jerzon Herrera also faces an additional 20-year imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine and not less than 3 years supervised release for his distribution of cocaine charge. Martin Herrera-Diaz Jr. also faces an additional 10 years to life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, and no less than 5 years supervised release for the possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress of the Southern District of Indiana, FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu of IRS-CI’s Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) 
investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.