29 Sentenced to 378 Years in Southern Indiana Drug Trafficking Case

A major drug trafficking ring in Southern Indiana has led to the sentencing of 29 individuals to a combined 378 years in federal prison for their involvement in distributing nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine and over three kilograms of fentanyl from January 2020 to November 2021. The ring was reportedly led by Jeramey Smith, who sourced drugs from various suppliers and utilized violence and intimidation tactics to maintain control over his distribution network. Law enforcement seized over 80 pounds of meth, more than 560 grams of fentanyl, and $240,000 in cash, along with over 30 firearms used by the members for protection. The final defendant, Gregory Markey, was sentenced to 14 years, completing the series of convictions from this extensive investigation. Federal officials describe this case as a significant victory against drug trafficking in the region, highlighting the dangerous scale of their operations. The seized fentanyl was noted to be enough to cause over 300,000 fatal overdoses, underscoring the severity of the public health crisis related to opioid abuse.