INDIANAPOLIS — Two dealers based in the Circle City have received federal prison sentences after being convicted of trafficking fentanyl.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana, 38-year-old Richard Garner III was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty on July 31 to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and possession of a firearm.
Andres Hernandez-Alamar, 29, was also sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
According to court documents, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Garner III after he reportedly failed to stop for a red light at Keystone Avenue and English Avenue.
Garner III fled from police at a “high rate of speed” before trying to dispose of a loaded Glock .40 handgun, the release said. When police eventually caught up to him, they discovered 55 fentanyl pills, powdered cocaine and over $9,000 in cash from his vehicle.
Later that same day, police searched Garner’s residence and located over 1,000 M30 fentanyl pills, powder cocaine, digital scales and pill presses. They also found a loaded Ruger handgun, an AR-15 style rifle, ammunition, a machine gun conversion device and $11,550 in cash.
In total, detectives seized 244 grams of fentanyl and 470 grams of cocaine from Garner’s residence.
The investigation into Hernandez-Alamar began on May 20, 2022, when IMPD detectives came across a U.S. Postal Service package containing 1,165 grams of fentanyl that was intended to arrive at a home in Indy.
When police showed up at the address listed on the package, Hernandez-Alamar opened the door, but he denied that the package was his.
As detectives looked further into the case, the release said they determined that Hernandez-Alamar had been exchanging text messages with a phone number based in Mexico that discussed ordering the narcotics.
“The fentanyl epidemic continues to claim lives across our country, and those who profit from its distribution will be held accountable,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, two dangerous individuals are now off the streets of Indianapolis and no longer able to threaten the safety of our community.”
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