INDIANAPOLIS – A Fort Wayne man is headed to federal prison for a dozen years after a routine traffic stop uncovered a significant methamphetamine stash and an illegally possessed firearm. David Taylor, 48, was sentenced Thursday for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
The bust unfolded February 5, 2021, when Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers pulled Taylor over on US 31 as he entered Indianapolis. According to court documents, officers immediately spotted a gun resting on Taylor’s lap, alongside evidence of a suspended driver’s license. The vehicle was subjected to a search after a K9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics.
That search yielded approximately 333.54 grams of pure methamphetamine hidden within the center console. Taylor later confessed to purchasing the drugs for $3,500, with a promised $500 payment for delivering it to a contact in Indianapolis. He admitted to making multiple similar runs between South Bend and Fort Wayne, essentially operating as a courier for a larger drug network. This wasn’t a first-time offense; Taylor’s criminal history already included convictions for theft, robbery, arson, and intimidation.
The combination of drugs and a firearm triggered the federal charges, given Taylor’s extensive prior record. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, didn’t mince words, stating, “Deadly drugs and deadly weapons—especially in the hands of criminals who have repeatedly engaged in violent crimes—are a scourge on our communities.” He emphasized the sentence sends a clear message that such activity “will not be tolerated.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Columbus Field Division and IMPD, with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson handed down the 12-year sentence, along with an eight-year period of supervised release and an $800 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Massa prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice recently reinforced PSN with a focus on community trust, prevention programs, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. It’s a standard talking point, but in this case, it backed up a solid conviction and a lengthy prison term for a repeat offender flooding the streets with meth.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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