William Johnson, Gun Trafficking, Indiana 2023

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – William Johnson, 21, of Indianapolis, is headed to federal prison for over eight years after turning Instagram into a marketplace for illegal firearms and deadly fentanyl. The 105-month sentence, handed down this week, closes a case that highlights the evolving face of criminal activity in the digital age.

According to court documents, investigators with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF) flagged Johnson’s Instagram account in September 2022 after spotting photos of him displaying multiple firearms. The disturbing detail? Johnson was already under home detention by Marion County Community Corrections, stemming from a prior felony conviction for carrying a handgun without a license. He apparently saw his prior conviction as more of a suggestion than a deterrent.

The ICGTF quickly discovered Johnson wasn’t just posing with weapons; he was actively trying to sell them. Instagram stories showcased a rotating inventory of firearms, including a black and silver semiautomatic handgun priced at $300 and an AR-style rifle going for “a G” – $1000. Other weapons featured in his online catalog included handguns with high-capacity drum magazines and a black and white striped rifle. But guns weren’t the only items on offer. Johnson also advertised and sold marijuana and, more alarmingly, fentanyl disguised as counterfeit oxycodone pills.

A search warrant executed on September 20, 2022, at Johnson’s Indianapolis residence turned up a veritable arsenal of illegal goods. Investigators seized a Ruger 9mm handgun, over 100 blue fentanyl pills marked “M30,” Glock gun boxes and magazines, $2,020 in cash, 83 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, and 112 grams of marijuana. A stolen Glock model 45 9mm handgun, equipped with a high-capacity magazine, was discovered in the garage. Johnson, with four prior felony convictions – each involving illegal firearm possession – was clearly undeterred by the law.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers didn’t mince words, stating, “The days of drug deals solely occurring on street corners are long gone. Today, fentanyl traffickers like this defendant can use social media to push illegal guns and poison into our community.” Myers emphasized the grim statistics: fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Hoosiers aged 18-45, and gun violence is a leading killer of American children and teens. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon, includes four years of supervised release following Johnson’s prison term.

The case, a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, was investigated by the ATF and the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Massa prosecuted the case. This conviction sends a clear message: law enforcement is actively monitoring social media platforms and will hold accountable those who exploit them for criminal purposes. The streets may have moved online, but the consequences remain the same.

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