Six area residents sentenced to federal prison in drug investigation

Federal prosecutors say six area residents were among those sentenced to federal prison as part of an investigation into a meth trafficking ring.

According to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, the case was part of Operation Take Back America. It investigated a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into Indianapolis and surrounding areas, including Seymour, Columbus, and Terre Haute. During the investigation authorities seized 82 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,750 fentanyl pills, a kilogram of cocaine, and nine firearms.

Among the 22 people sentenced for their role were:

• 34-year-old Abel Ayala-Garcia of Columbus was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. he was sentenced to 24 and a half years in prison.
• 42-year-old Victor Vazquez-Hernandez of Seymour has been sentenced to 10 years and seven months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  27-year-old Allison Perdue of Seymour was also convicted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• 31-year-old Nathan Lee of Columbus will serve 10 years for distribution of methamphetamine.
• 27-year-old Emilio Landa-Lagunes of Seymour was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to six years in prison.
• 38-year-old Claudio Garcia-Morales of Columbus will serve 3 years and 10 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In addition to the drug ring, prosecutors say  the defendants also engaged in money laundering by using wire transfers to send more than $291 thousand from Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona and Mexico.