Evergreen Reporter

Five individuals have been sentenced to a total of 70 years in federal prison for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation involving methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young imposed the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty.

The defendants were sentenced as follows: Jamarr Hill received 17 years' imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, money laundering, and conspiracy to make a false statement in connection with purchasing a firearm. Terry Hill was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with time served and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Lance McGee received 15 years' imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Nakevius Shannon was given three years’ probation for making a false statement in connection with purchasing a firearm.

Court documents revealed that between May and November 2022, Jamarr Hill acted as the ringleader, obtaining large quantities of drugs from Rodolfo Silva in San Diego, California, for redistribution in Muncie. Terry Hill and Lance McGee distributed these drugs within communities in Muncie and central Indiana.

On November 12, 2022, Nakevius Shannon purchased two firearms from Rural King but falsely stated on ATF Form 4473 that he was the intended buyer when they were actually for Jamarr Hill's drug trafficking activities.

The investigation led to additional charges against other individuals involved. Joseph Haskins was charged in August 2021 with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and later sentenced as a career offender to 33 years’ imprisonment following a trial in December 2023. Rodolfo Silva pleaded guilty in the Southern District of California in 2024 for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and received a sentence of over 17 years.

“Drug traffickers like these defendants... must be held accountable,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. He commended law enforcement efforts including those by the FBI and local police departments.

Herbert J. Stapleton, FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge added: “This is a significant victory... The FBI will continue...to disrupt these criminal enterprises.”

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI, IRS, Muncie Police Department, Anderson Police Department, and Fishers Police Department under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Barry Glickman prosecuted this case.