Eleven people have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine into Central Indiana. The sentences, ranging from more than five years to 26 years, were handed down after a long-term investigation involving several law enforcement agencies.
The defendants included Christopher Miller, Jamie Sullivan, Tameico Johnson, Jayden Bertram, Courtlin Moncrief, Camonte Miller, Jordan Sumner, Afrika Railynne Williams, Monica Sumner, Dewell Simpson, and Regina Weatherford. Their convictions covered conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, laundering money from drug sales through methods such as CashApp transactions and structured bank deposits, possession of firearms including machineguns or converted automatic weapons without proper licenses, and other related charges.
According to court documents, Jaraughn Bertram led the group in transporting drugs from Arizona to Indiana cities such as Indianapolis, Anderson, and Muncie. Drugs were moved using couriers who concealed narcotics in checked airline baggage or shipped them through the U.S. mail. Members distributed these substances locally while some also laundered proceeds by purchasing vehicles or conducting various financial transactions.
During the investigation—which led to multiple federal indictments—law enforcement recovered significant contraband: 128 firearms; 61 machine gun conversion devices; over $720,000 in cash; 22 vehicles; approximately 118 pounds of methamphetamine; 78 kilograms of fentanyl; over 500 pounds of marijuana; along with cocaine and heroin.
Jaraughn Bertram fled Indianapolis for Mexico during the investigation but was killed there in September 2024. Joaquin Carranza—an alleged supplier—also fled to Mexico and remains at large.
Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana stated: “This was not just a drug bust- it was a takedown of a massive, highly organized criminal enterprise flooding Central Indiana with poison on an industrial scale,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Dozens of law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels worked tirelessly together, coordinating for years across jurisdictions to take down this operation. Thanks to their extraordinary partnership, these dangerous traffickers are behind bars, and our communities are safer.”
John Smerglia from ATF added: “This extraordinary investigation, made possible through the collaboration of numerous law enforcement partners, underscores our commitment to justice. We believe the sentences imposed on these violent offenders will have a lasting positive impact on the communities they targeted,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge John Smerglia.
Timothy J. O’Malley with FBI Indianapolis commented: “The defendants profited by flooding our neighborhoods with deadly drugs leaving devastation in their wake—shattered families lost lives and communities in crisis,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Today’s sentences send a clear message: if you exploit our communities and profit from their pain we will come for you. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will be unrelenting in hunting down these traffickers and driving them off our streets.”
Jason Bushey with IRS Criminal Investigation noted: “Drug traffickers don’t just flood communities with narcotics—they disguise their profits through complex laundering schemes,” said Jason Bushey Acting Special Agent in Charge IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents used forensic accounting to expose how this network tried to wash its money clean. By seizing their drugs firearms and illegal assets we’ve cut off both the poison and the profits. IRS-CI will continue working with our federal state and local partners to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Felicia George from USPIS Detroit Division emphasized postal safety: “US Postal Inspectors are dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the US Mail. We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impacts the safety of postal employees and postal customers,” said USPIS Detroit Division Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia George.“The Postal Inspection Service is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in identifying disrupting and dismantling these drug tracking organizations which endanger our communities.”
Indiana State Police Captain Ron Galaviz remarked on multi-agency cooperation: “The Indiana State Police actively collaborates with various law enforcement partners at all levels (local state and federal) to combat criminal enterprises involved in illicit narcotics and firearms. This collaborative approach aims to enhance public safety by disrupting the flow of illegal drugs and firearms bringing those involved …to justice,” he said.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S Marshals Service (https://www.usmarshals.gov/), U.S Postal Inspection Service (https://www.uspis.gov/), Homeland Security Investigations (https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-investigations), as well as state/local police departments throughout Central Indiana.
U.S District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed all sentences after prosecution by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle P Brady & Kelsey L Massa.
This case was brought together with support from both Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)—which focuses on disrupting high-level drug trafficking organizations—and Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). ICGTF brings together officers from Boone Hamilton Hancock Hendricks Marion Morgan Johnson Shelby counties working collaboratively across jurisdictions against violent crime involving illegal firearm possession.
