MEXICAN NATIONAL GETS 33 YEARS FOR ROLE IN
INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONSPIRACY

PRESS RELEASE

Susan W. Brooks, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that MARTIN AVILA, 37, Michocan, Mexico, was sentenced to 33 years (396 months) imprisonment today by U.S. District Judge David F. Hamilton following his conviction at trial March 13, 2007 for Conspiracy to Possess With the Intent to Distribute and/or Distribution of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana. This case was the result of a year long multiagency investigation of a drug trafficking organization that was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Drug Task Force, United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. AVILA is the last of 21 persons convicted in connection with this investigation to be sentenced.

In early 2000, law enforcement became aware of drug trafficking activities of a number of Mexican nationals residing in the Indianapolis area. Law enforcement determined that the targets of their investigation were obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from individuals in Mexico, Texas and Illinois. Persons in Indianapolis would then distribute these drugs in Marion, Bartholomew and Vigo Counties, and other places in Southern Indiana. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement made more than twenty controlled purchases of various drugs. They were also able to seize 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 408 kilograms of marijuana and 2.6 kilograms of cocaine.

AVILA obtained large amounts of these drugs from Chicago and transported them to Indianapolis, sometimes using cars with hidden compartments or “traps” to conceal the drugs.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Hamilton also imposed 10 years supervised release following AVILA’s release from imprisonment, if AVILA is not deported to his native country of Mexico.

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