EVANSVILLE, IN – A significant methamphetamine trafficking operation in Evansville has been dismantled, resulting in hefty federal prison sentences for three individuals. Colin January, 47, of Evansville, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and attempted possession with intent to distribute the drug. The bust, a collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement, shines a light on the persistent drug trade plaguing Southwestern Indiana.
The investigation, spanning March through May 2022, revealed January as the central figure in distributing large quantities of meth within the Evansville area. According to court documents, January enlisted the aid of Patricia Minor, 41, and Blenda Lundburg, 57, both of Evansville, to facilitate the delivery of the illicit substance. Minor received a 29-month sentence, while Lundburg received one year time served, both followed by one year of supervised release, after both pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a communication facility.
The scheme unraveled on April 29, 2022, when January directed Minor to contact Lundburg regarding a package delivery to Lundburg’s Oak Street apartment. Lundburg initially expressed reluctance, but Minor assured her she had previously accepted similar deliveries without issue, stating, “I had no problem with it.” Lundburg’s chilling response – “As long as I know nothing and nothing else. No trouble at all” – reveals a calculated attempt to distance herself from the criminal activity. On May 1, 2022, January provided Lundburg’s address to a co-conspirator, having previously supplied two other Evansville locations. A parcel containing a staggering 1,374 grams of methamphetamine, shipped from California, arrived at Lundburg’s apartment via the U.S. Postal Service.
Law enforcement, tipped off to the impending delivery, intercepted the package, removed the methamphetamine, and orchestrated a controlled delivery. January, Minor, and Lundburg were all present at the apartment when authorities executed the bust. The intercepted shipment alone speaks volumes about the scale of the operation and the potential harm it could have inflicted on the community. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers minced no words, stating, “Methamphetamine…have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities. Trafficking organizations…must be held accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Evansville Police Department, and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young handed down the sentences. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew B. Miller and Kristian Mukoski prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle high-level drug trafficking organizations.
OCDETF utilizes an intelligence-driven, prosecutor-led approach, leveraging the combined resources of federal, state, and local law enforcement to target criminal networks. The successful prosecution of January, Minor, and Lundburg represents a significant victory in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Southern Indiana, but authorities acknowledge that the battle is far from over. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to dismantle the networks fueling the addiction crisis gripping the nation.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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