INDIANAPOLIS – A jury delivered a crushing blow to a major drug trafficking operation flooding Indianapolis with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine this week, convicting four men on federal charges. The ring, which stretched across state lines, saw seventeen other members already plead guilty, signaling a significant disruption to the flow of deadly narcotics in the Midwest. The case, meticulously built by federal investigators, reveals a chilling level of brazenness – including the exploitation of a twelve-year-old child.
The ringleader, Keith Jones, aka “Keybo”, 57, of Indianapolis, faces a mandatory life sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to distribute drugs, engaging in money laundering, leading a continuing criminal enterprise, and illegally possessing multiple handguns and an assault rifle. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Jones orchestrated the distribution network, sourcing drugs from Kevin Backstrom, 57, of Los Angeles, California. Backstrom was convicted of conspiracy to distribute drugs and engage in money laundering, facing no less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
The operation wasn’t just about moving product; it was about obscuring the money trail. Authorities detailed how Jones and his associates disguised profits from drug sales, sending portions back to Backstrom in California. Anthony Moore, 37, of Indianapolis, a key lieutenant in the operation, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute drugs, and similarly faces a potential sentence of 10 years to life. Adding to the gravity of the case, evidence showed Jones shockingly enlisted his twelve-year-old daughter to assist in the distribution of the controlled substances – a callous disregard for a child’s wellbeing in the pursuit of profit.
Herman Wesley Tavorn, 42, of Indianapolis, was also convicted of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a potential sentence of 10 years to life. While the jury found Tavorn guilty, they acquitted Charles Davis, 38, of Indianapolis, on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances – a rare setback for the prosecution in this otherwise successful takedown. The investigation, spanning back to July 2022, culminated in a series of federal indictments and aggressive enforcement.
The scope of the operation is staggering. During the execution of search warrants, law enforcement seized approximately forty-three firearms, $300,000 in U.S. currency, four ounces of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, and two kilograms of fentanyl. The sheer volume of drugs and weaponry underscores the danger this organization posed to the Indianapolis community. The seventeen co-defendants who have already pleaded guilty will be sentenced at a later date, adding to the tally of those facing significant prison time.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigations, Indianapolis Metropolitan Drug Task Force, Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt presided over the trial and will determine the sentences for the convicted individuals. The convictions send a clear message: those who profit from poisoning our communities will face the full weight of federal justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Keith Jones, Fentanyl Trafficking, Indianapolis IN, 2024 · California
- Adolfo Barragan-Rodriguez, Federal Drug Trafficking, Kan. 2024 · Ohio
- MS-13 Members Charged with Assault and Drug Trafficking, California 2023 · Illinois
- Five California Residents Indicted for Cocaine Trafficking, Clevela… · Illinois
- 18th Street Gang Members, Narcotics Trafficking, California 2023 · California
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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