INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Eugene Theard, a 45-year-old Indianapolis man, is headed to federal prison for 16 years after being convicted of trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing five firearms. Theard’s operation was brought down by a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC).
The DEA first flagged Theard on May 11, 2021, when he sold 221 grams of methamphetamine for $2,300. Less than a month later, on June 3, 2021, he attempted to sell another 111 grams for $1,400. The deal occurred while Theard was already on parole for a previous domestic battery conviction and failure to comply with parole conditions – a fact that clearly meant little to him.
Following the June 3rd transaction, IDOC parole agents conducted a routine check at Theard’s Indianapolis motel room. They didn’t find just drugs; they uncovered a substantial stash – 382 grams of methamphetamine – alongside five firearms. Theard readily admitted to agents that he intended to continue selling the drugs and that the guns were there to protect his illicit business and the money it generated. He was, in his own words, armed and open for business.
“Armed trafficking of deadly drugs drives violence and fuels substance use disorders,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “These crimes are even more unacceptable when committed by a felon who is still on parole, and clearly has not learned his lesson.” Myers lauded the collaborative effort of the various agencies involved in bringing Theard to justice, calling it a successful takedown of a dangerous individual.
U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney handed down the 16-year sentence, ordering Theard to also serve a four-year period of supervised release after completing his prison term. Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath prosecuted the case. This bust is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
The case underscores the continuing problem of repeat offenders exploiting loopholes and the relentless effort of federal agencies to stem the flow of dangerous drugs and illegal firearms onto the streets of Indianapolis and beyond. Theard’s sentence sends a clear message: dealing drugs while armed, especially as a convicted felon, carries severe consequences. It remains to be seen if it will be enough to deter others like him.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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