INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Two Indianapolis brothers are off the streets and headed to federal prison after a brazen drug deal caught the eye of local police. Desmond Breedlove, 34, and DaJaun Breedlove, 23, were sentenced this week for possession with intent to distribute heroin and illegally carrying firearms during a drug transaction. The bust highlights the ongoing struggle against the deadly combination of narcotics and guns plaguing the city.
The case unfolded on May 29, 2021, when Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers spotted the Breedlove brothers conducting what appeared to be a drug deal near a Conoco gas station on E. 38th Street. What immediately raised red flags wasn’t just the exchange itself, but the visible bulges under each man’s pants – the unmistakable outlines of handguns. A subsequent traffic stop revealed the extent of their arsenal and illicit cargo.
A search of the vehicle uncovered two 9-millimeter handguns stashed in the glove box, along with three loaded magazines, a .380 caliber magazine, and a 30-round extended magazine. Alongside the weaponry, officers discovered 21.27 grams of heroin, packaged in two small baggies, and a digital scale, confirming the brothers were actively engaged in drug trafficking. Desmond Breedlove, already on federal supervised release for a prior firearm conviction, admitted to not having a valid driver’s license.
DaJaun Breedlove received a sentence of over six years in federal prison on September 1st. Desmond Breedlove’s penalty was steeper – seven years for the current heroin and firearms charges, plus an additional two years for violating the terms of his previous supervised release. He had been released from prison on April 23, 2019, after serving 30 months for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Clearly, a previous stint behind bars did little to deter his criminal activity.
“Our families continue to suffer far too many tragedies stemming from substance abuse and gun violence,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Everyone deserves a neighborhood that is safe and free from armed drug dealers like these defendants.” The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and IMPD, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Peter A. Blackett.
Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed the sentences and ordered both Breedlove brothers to undergo three years of supervised release upon their eventual release from prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The message is clear: those who peddle deadly drugs while armed will face serious consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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