Hammond, IN – The grim narrative of Gary’s criminal underworld took a darker turn yesterday as Taquan Clarke, a 31-year-old drug kingpin from the city, was sentenced to an unprecedented 480 months in federal prison for his role in a cocaine conspiracy and the tragic murder of K.H.
Clarke stood before United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury convicted him on all counts. He faced concurrent sentences of 240 months for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, alongside the 480-month sentence handed down for using a firearm in the commission of murder.
The sentence also includes three years of supervised release, ensuring that Clarke will be under close watch for the remainder of his life. His crimes spanned from June 2016 to February 2018, during which time he and an extensive network conspired to traffic cocaine throughout Indiana.
On July 28, 2017, Clarke’s descent into violence reached its climax when he plotted to rob an individual of both cocaine and money. During the botched operation, Clarke fired a fatal shot into K.H.’s head, ending his life.
In delivering the verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney M. Scott Proctor spoke passionately about the impact of Clarke’s actions. ‘Taquan Clarke cut short the life of another man,’ Proctor said. ‘With the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, he has been brought to justice for that act. It is an honor to serve with the dedicated agents, officers, and prosecutors who made that happen.’
This investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team, the Gary Police Department, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Caitlin M. Padula handled the trial with precision.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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