In a recent federal crackdown on drug trafficking in Indianapolis, two men have been handed prison sentences for their involvement in the distribution of fentanyl, a powerful and often deadly opioid. Richard Garner III, aged 38, received a 15-year sentence, followed by eight years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a substantive amount of fentanyl, as well as a firearms charge. Garner’s encounter with law enforcement began with a traffic violation and escalated to a high-speed chase before his arrest, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During the pursuit on August 8, 2024, Garner tried to evade police by speeding through residential areas and discarding a loaded firearm from his vehicle. An ensuing search of Garner’s car and residence yielded not only fentanyl but also cocaine, illegal firearms, cash, and drug paraphernalia, as told by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In total, the authorities seized 244 grams of fentanyl and 470 grams of cocaine from Garner’s possession.
Alongside Garner, Andres Hernandez-Alamar, 29, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison following a guilty plea to attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The investigation into Hernandez-Alamar began with a tip about a suspicious package, which led to the discovery of over a kilogram of fentanyl intended for distribution. Text messages found on Hernandez-Alamar’s phone linked him back to the package and detailed his criminal activities, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office…