Leaders of a Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison
INDIANAPOLIS – An Indianapolis man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney to over 27 years in prison following his conviction at trial for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Eric Walker, 31, along with two other defendants, were convicted in June 2021 following a two-week jury trial. Walker’s codefendants, Clifford R. King, and Derrick Granger were previously sentenced by Judge Sweeney to each serve 30 years in prison.
King supplied between two and five pounds of methamphetamine per day to various customers in the Indianapolis area from the summer of 2019 until March 2020. King had previously been convicted in Marion County of robbery in 2014 and was sentenced to community corrections. King violated the terms of his community corrections on four occasions and returned to community corrections each time. Following his fourth violation, King absconded and became a fugitive in January 2018. While on fugitive status, King possessed a machine gun during the drug conspiracy and distributed his methamphetamine from a stolen vehicle.
Granger served as one of Kings methamphetamine suppliers. He obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and transported the drugs back to Indianapolis for distribution to King. Granger was interdicted at a hotel in Los Angeles in November 2019 with 59 pounds of methamphetamine that he intended to transport back to Indianapolis for distribution.
Walker served as an alternate supplier to King. In March 2021, Walker was convicted in a separate jury trial in Marion County for possession of cocaine, neglect of a dependent, and possession of a narcotic drug. He remained at liberty following his conviction in Marion County and continued to supply King with methamphetamine. A telephone conversation was intercepted between Walker and King in which they discussed the Marion County trial and their ongoing drug trafficking activity on the same evening that Marion County jury returned its verdict.
“Organized trafficking of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs contributes to the unacceptable level of violence in Indianapolis and throughout the country. Those who persist in engaging in dangerous criminal conduct despite determined efforts to dissuade them will be held accountable in our courts,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Dismantling drug trafficking organizations and taking guns out of the hands of previously convicted felons, is a critical part of our fight to reduce violent crime in our communities.”
“The sentencing of Mr. Walker, Mr. Granger and Mr. King sends a big message that drug traffickers will be held accountable,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “Any time we can remove large amounts of debilitating drugs such as methamphetamine, which in this case was at a 100% purity level, and illegally possessed firearms from the streets, it is a big win. DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners to keep our communities safe. DEA commends the outstanding work by the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana, and all the agencies who participated in this investigation.”
Judge Sweeney has sentenced 21 other defendants in this case. The following are other noteworthy prison sentences:
- Steve Anderson,48, more than 21 years
- Eric Poore, 44, more than 17 years
- Jeremy Osman, 42, more than 15 years
- Troy Thornton, 49, 15 years
- Tyler Greenwalt, 37, more than 11 years
- Josh T. Unger, 38, more than 10 years
- Ayers Adams, 29, 10 years
- Dylan Williams, 42, 10 years
- James Swartz, 43, 10 years
- James Bacon, 53, 10 years
- Ryan Sawyers, 39, 10 years
This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Metro Drug Task Force, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley A. Blackington and Kathryn Olivier, who prosecuted this case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
