INDIANAPOLIS -- Federal indictments unsealed Monday accuse Richard Grundy III, David Carroll & 25 others of a large-scale drug trafficking ring that moved methamphetamine from Arizona to be distributed in Indianapolis.
Grundy was one of about a dozen defendants who appeared in federal court in Indianapolis Monday morning to hear the charges against them.
Federal prosecutors allege Grundy, David Carroll and others pooled $84,500 to purchase a large shipment of methamphetamine in Phoenix, Arizona, that they then planned on selling in Indianapolis.
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The money was interdicted on a Greyhound bus in New Mexico in the possession of Christopher D. Bradford and Daona Le’Ann Gholston, who are also charged in the indictment.
The indictments also accuse Carroll of acting as the primary distributor of methamphetamine for the group. Prosecutors allege he operated out of the Constitution Gardens Apartments at 34th Street and Central Avenue. From there, they say he parceled out meth to lower-level dealers, who would then sell it around Indianapolis.
The charges were laid out in two indictments: United States of America v. Richard Bernard Grundy III et al; and United States of America v. David Carroll et al.
Indicted in the first case were:
- Richard Bernard Grundy III, aka “White Boy”
- Ezell Neville, aka “B”
- Conway Jefferson, aka “Lil C”
- Gilberto Vizcarra-Millan
- Mario Eduado Villasenor
- Emilio Mitchell II, aka “Loaf”
- Emili Mitchell Jr.
- Lance L. Hatcher Jr., aka “Mont Mont”
- Thomas Bullock
- Dion G. Madison, aka “D”
- Frank S. Early
- Frankie B. Ray, aka Fresh
- Christopher D. Bradford
- Daona Le’Ann Gholston
Carroll, the lead defendant in the second indictment, was previously charged with Grundy and nine others in an alleged marijuana dealing and murder conspiracy in October 2015. Ultimately, most of the charges against the 11 co-defendants were dropped. Caroll pleaded guilty to one count of possession of marijuana and received a sentence of time served. Grundy pleaded guilty to dealing in marijuana and also received time served, plus two years of non-reporting probation.
MORE | ‘Grundy Crew’ case ends with almost all charges dropped, guilty plea on marijuana charge
Charged in the second indictment were:
- David C. Carroll
- Michael Hyatte
- Lance L. Hatcher Jr., aka “Mont Mont”
- Nathaniel Dixson, aka “Dog”
- Conway Jefferson, aka “Lil C”
- Derek Atwater, aka “Shorty”
- Robert Lisenby Jr., aka “Russ”
- Torin A Harris
- John E. Bell
- Shemilah D. Crowe
- James O. Beasley, aka “Jake”
Grundy, Carroll and the majority of their co-defendants were taken into custody on Friday during a series of sweeps by federal agents across Indianapolis dubbed "Operation Electric Avenue."
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett issued the following statement Monday after the indictments were unsealed in the case:
“For years, Indianapolis neighborhoods have faced brazen violence and lawlessness orchestrated by the Grundy Crew. Their wrongdoing is exactly why we have redoubled our efforts to promote collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement partners.
Thanks to their work, these bad actors are once again behind bars and dozens of illegally possessed weapons are off the streets.
On behalf of our city, I’d like to thank United States Attorney Josh Minkler and the FBI for their swift work over the weekend in apprehending the accused. Because of their efforts, our community is safer this week than it was last.
Violent gangs that plague too many parts of our state don’t see jurisdictional lines, and neither should we. By standing together, we send a powerful message: We will not give up the fight against those who are putting our neighborhoods in danger and the safety of our city at risk.”
Federal prosecutors have asked that all of the defendants be held in custody until their trial. A detention hearing for Grundy was scheduled for Nov. 27 at 9 a.m.
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